THE Lake Zone Cultural and Tourism Festival, which ran from July 5-7, 2024 in Bariadi District, Simiyu Region has left a mark after it attracted over 10,000 people at the CCM grounds.

Organized by Kilimanjaro One Travel and Tours Limited, the event which involved, among other things, traditional dances and competition between Gika and Gulu groups, caused great excitement and has left a lasting impact.

Speaking during the closing of the festival, Bariadi District Commissioner Simon Simalenga commended the company for organizing such an impressive festival.

 "I really congratulate Kilimanjaro One Travel and Tours Limited for what they did to be able to gather such a large crowd and ensure the festival ends in remarkable success," he said, while also congratulating Bariadi residents for maintaining peace throughout the three consecutive days of the festival.

He called on the organizers to ensure the festival was held every year because Simiyu residents had already understood it and had high expectations for next year.

Christina Jengo, the organizers’ managing director, said the festival was a great success as they expected 7,000 people, but at the end of the day, it attracted more than 10,000 people from inside and outside Simiyu Region.

 "We will continue improving year by year and we believe this is the very first company to organize such a large cultural and tourism festival," she said.

 She thanked the sponsors of the festival, who included the Tanzania Tourism Board (TTB), Z&M General Traders, NMB Bank, Widescope Enterprises Limited, and Carehealth and Hospitality Services. 

"I believe that after this first festival this year, other organizations will see the importance of supporting next year's event because I have been informed that this will be an annual festival,” she said.

Representative of the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Sports, who is also Cultural Officer Nyambeho Magesa praised the organizers for heeding and supporting President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s call to start a cultural and tourism festival in every region as they had done.

The Cultural Officer said the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism would continue collaborating with the organizers of the event to promote cultural tourism, while calling on various traditional dance groups of Simiyu Region to register with the National Arts Council (BASATA) so that they might benefit from various things, including loans issued to groups.