Impressed by a number of attractions that they have so far managed to sample in Tanzania, the team of experts from Russia has vowed to ensure that the country gets more visitors from Moscow.
Professor Svetlana Tereshchenko, who is the head of Directorate of International Cooperation at the Saint Petersburg State Forest Technical University of Russia, said they were especially impressed by the way Tanzania preserves the country’s history and cultural heritage.
Prof Tereshchenko and his team had just visited the ancient Cave paintings and Rock Art at the Kolo site in Kondoa District of Dodoma which is one of the seven world heritage sites found in Tanzania.
The visitors from Russia were all spellbound by the way the site had been systematically preserved such an important time stamp in East Africa.
“We have been deeply moved by the Kondo Rock Arts site,” said the Russian scholar, adding that the destination features smooth metamorphosis of cultural and ecological tourism which will impress most people back in Russia.
With that, Svetlana promised to promote the site once he returns to Moscow, thus guaranteeing more Russians to start visiting Northern Tanzania.
The team formed part of the Russian and Tanzanian Scientific and Educational expedition.
Jared Otieno is the coordinator at the Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) agency, who was in charge of the expedition.
Otieno explained that the Russian delegation, among other things, explored ways of hatching cooperation with their Tanzanian experts in the field of forest conservation using modern technology.
The Russian envoy to Tanzania, Ambassador Andrey Avetisyan stressed the importance of two countries working together in the various sectors, especially forestry, wildlife conservation and agriculture, including related research studies.
Russia can be credited with the saving grace for the Tanzanian travel industry during the Covid-19 pandemic period.
When most countries remained locked behind doors, visitors from Moscow continued flocking to Tanzania against all odds.
Between January and June 2021 for instance, more than 75,000 visitors from Russia toured Tanzania, according to the Data derived from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
And now, having been almost marooned by trade and travel restrictions from the US and Europe due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Tanzania may serve as the best alternative destination for Russians who still want to enjoy their leisure travels outside their country.
So far, the vast Nyerere National Park in Southern Tanzania has hatched an extraordinary connection with Zanzibar.
Tourists from mostly Moscow and Warsaw after visiting the Islands, connect their itinerary with the Nyerere National Park for a day trip of game drives.
Nyerere National Park records daily flights from Zanzibar, landing mostly at the Mtemere Airstrip, with international travellers who have been enjoying beach tourism in the isles, flying into the Game Park for wildlife experience.