Mwanza grapples with lack of conference facilities

From IPP Media/The Guardian, Dar es Salaam
By Lusekelo Philemon 

Authorities in the rocky city of Mwanza have started chasing for potential investors, who would be interested to invest in modern conference facilities.

“We are forced to call for investors to do so, taking into account that the city has no conference facility that would house more than 3,000 people at once as it is with other cities in Tanzania,” Mwanza Regional Commissioner Evarist Ndikilo said.

Briefing a group of EAC Brand Survey volunteers in his office lately, the RC said the city was in a good location to host regional and international conferences but failed to do so because of lack of conference facilities as in Dar es Salaam and Arusha. Eng. Ndikilo said accommodation facilities are no longer a challenge as there are some people in Mwanza who have invested in hotels, “but most of them lack conference facilities, a situation that makes the city at a losing point.”

“We are anxious to start lobbying for some EAC meetings to be held here, but it is very difficult because we don’t have such facilities. So, I take this opportunity to encourage investors to view Mwanza as an important area for investment,” RC Ndikilo said. He, however, stated that regional authorities are working on making the region a tourist hub in the Lake zone by putting up better infrastructure that is tourist friendly.

The ongoing expansion of Mwanza airport to international status will be a catalyst for the growing tourism industry, along with Saanane Island National Park. Mwanza has more than 40 tourist attractions, the RC added.