TRAVEL and tourism industry stakeholders have expressed concern over the sharp increase in levies imposed by the government for tourists and service providers accessing wildlife management areas (WMAs) and other game-protected areas.

Henry Kimambo, the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO vice chairman, said in a briefing after a meeting of stakeholders over the weekend that the new fees were introduced with little notice.

They have sparked unrest in an industry where tourism packages are often booked a year in advance, with arrivals likely to be affected by the move where the Natural Resources and Tourism portal indicated new fees in the past week.

Fees for tourists, tour guides, drivers and tourist vans heading to WMAs have been increased on a range from 30 percent to 650 percent, placing the financial burden on tour operators responsible for collecting levies, the stakeholder noted.

The fee hikes began affecting operations immediately after the new rates were posted on the ministry's website, he said, asserting that tour operators are now bearing the financial losses to protect Tanzania’s reputation as a tourist destination.

Some travel agencies have cancelled plans to visit WMAs and game-protected areas, opting instead for national parks and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), where the new fees do not apply, he stated.

While Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) typically give a year’s notice before implementing fee changes, stakeholders criticized the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) for its abrupt shift to the new levies.

TATO and the Tanzania Local Tour Operators Association (TLTOA) have appealed to the authorities to return to the negotiation table, citing potential harm to the country’s image and communities dependent on WMA-related income.

Samuel Dia, the TLTOA chairman, said that this sudden fee hike undermines the efforts of national leaders promoting Tanzania’s tourism abroad and threatens development projects in WMA communities. 

Drivers and tour guides have also felt the strain as a driver paying 2,360/- will now pay 17,700/- in a 650 percent increase), with conservation fees jumping from 5,900/- to 23,600/- per vehicle. For tourists, entry fees have increased from $11.8 to 70,800/-, representing a 135 percent hike.

TLTOA is urging the government to consider direct payment systems for tourists as tour operators are being blamed for the increased costs, he said.

These exorbitant levies will discourage tourists from visiting WMAs and hurt communities relying on them for income, he cautioned.

“WMAs were created to involve local communities in conservation and direct proceeds toward development projects. However, these fee hikes may hinder tourist visits and frustrate these efforts,” he added.