- The new route will run on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday every week using Boeing 787-9. This model is Air France’s leading aircraft in African skies.
- Airline’s expansion will offer travelers more choices and contribute to the growth of Tanzania’s tourism industry.
- Travel-related revenue in Tanzania nearly doubled to $2.56 billion in 2022 from $1.31 billion previously.
The first flight from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport has been launched by Air France, the national airline of France.
Air France is demonstrating its belief in Tanzania as a destination for both business and leisure travel. The new route adds to the airline’s existing service between Paris and Zanzibar.
Air France to fly three times per week
The Boeing 787-9, a highly effective and environmentally friendly aircraft operated by Air France to sub-Saharan Africa, will fly the route on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday every week.
“This is a proud moment for Air France as we increase our footprints in Africa. We are confident that this new route will bring significant benefits to both Tanzania and France, strengthening cultural and economic ties between our two countries,” Air France-KLM General Manager for East and Southern Africa, Nigeria, and Ghana Marius van der Ham, said.
Additionally, the airline’s growth will give customers more options and support Tanzania’s tourism industry’s progress.
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With the revised route, travelers will leave Paris and arrive in Dar es Salaam after a stopover in Zanzibar. This demonstrates Air France’s commitment to expanding its presence in the area and connecting Dar es Salaam to the rest of the world. The flight will leave Dar es Salaam in anticipation of arriving at Charles de Gaulle, in Paris.
Tanzania offering good business climate
On his part, Alexander van de Wint, Country Manager for Tanzania for Air France-KLM, expressed gratitude to the Tanzanian government for providing a favorable business climate.
“We are excited to be able to connect more customers from Tanzania, Dar es Salaam to Paris and beyond to more than 200 destinations worldwide, providing more options for customers to experience what other destinations in Europe and in the rest of the world have to offer to both our leisure and and corporate customers,” he said.
Travel-related revenue in Tanzania nearly doubled to $2.56 billion in 2022 from $1.31 billion. According to Tanzania Invest data, this was in line with the increase in visitor arrivals. Statistics show that Tanzania welcomed 1,454,920 tourists in 2022, up from 616,491 in 2020 and 922,692 in 2021.
“In 2020, revenues were down to $1 billion as it was severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on international travel, from a peak of $2.6 billion in revenues and 1.5 million arrivals in 2019,” the report stated.
As a result, the sector’s contribution to GDP fell from 10.6 percent in 2019 to 5.3 percent in 2020. In 2021, however, it rose to 5.7 percent.
Europe top tourist source market for Tanzania
According to the data, Europe traditionally accounts for the largest share of arrivals. Other top sources are Asia and the Pacific, the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East. In December 2019, Tanzania’s hotel occupancy rate hit 53.8 per cent, up from 44.9 per cent in December 2018.
The lifting of lockdown measures by most countries saw increase in tourist arrivals in 2022. Efforts by Tanzanian government to promote tourism attractions within and outside the country also paid off.
Read also: Tanzania’s measures to protect its tourism industry in wake of pandemic
Last year, the US recorded the highest number of arrivals from the rest of the world at 100,600 followed by France (100,371), Germany (67,718), the UK (60,116) and Poland (46,431).
Meanwhile, arrivals from Africa were from Kenya (166,324) Burundi (100,851), Zambia (46,787), Malawi (44,438) and Rwanda (44,288). Tourist arrivals from the top 10 countries out of 214 account for 53.2 percent of all arrivals.
