HALEIWA, Hawaii, USA; BRUSSELS, Belgium; VICTORIA, Seychelles – The International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) announced that Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) has joined the alliance as a destination member.Tanzania National Parks works to sustainably conserve and manage park resources and their aesthetic value, for the benefit of present and future generations of mankind, as well as to efficiently provide high-class tourism products and services. Its ultimate aim is to be the highest globally-rated institution in sustainable conservation and provision of exceptional tourism services.
The primary role of TANAPA is conservation. The 15 national parks, many of which form the core of a much larger protected ecosystem, have been set aside to preserve the country’s rich natural heritage, and to provide secure breeding grounds where its fauna and flora can thrive, safe from the conflicting interests of a growing human population.The existing park system protects a number of internationally-recognized bastions of biodiversity and World Heritage sites, thereby redressing the balance for those areas of the country affected by deforestation, agriculture, and urbanization.
The gazetting of Saadani and Kitulo National Parks in 2002 expanded this network to include coastal and montane habitats formerly accorded a lower level of protection.TANAPA is also currently acquiring further land to expand certain parks, and to raise the status of traditional migration corridors connecting protected areas. In spite of population pressures, Tanzania has dedicated more than 46,348.9 square kilometers to national parks. Including other reserves, conservation areas and marine parks, Tanzania has accorded some form of formal protection to more than one-third of its territory – a far higher proportion than most of the world's wealthier nations.
Tourism provides valuable revenue used to support the conservation work of the national parks, as well as wildlife research, and the education and livelihood of local communities. In addition, tourism helps to generate international awareness of conservation issues, while the physical presence of tourists can help deter illegal poaching activity, assisting the park rangers with their game management work.
Professor Geoffrey Lipman, president of ICTP said: "The engagement of TANAPA is another important milestone. Tanzania has a proud reputation for conservation and heritage. Serangeti is the home of one of the greatest animal migrations on the planet and Mount Kilimanjaro - Africa's highest mountain - is a global icon for adventure travel. Members like this add immensely to the collective knowledge and resource base of ICTP - we welcome Tanapa's commitment to work with us to promote quality green growth"
ICTP Chairman Juergen T. Steinmetz said: “We firmly believe in the work TANAPA is doing and the fact that this organization has resisted the temptation to cash in on the short-term gains of mass tourism. Instead, it is committed to low impact, sustainable visitation to protect the environment from irreversible damage while creating a first-class ecotourism destination.
This fits in perfectly with the mission of ICTP to promote quality green tourism growth.”
For more information, go to www.tanzaniaparks.com .
ABOUT ICTPThe International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) is a grassroots travel and tourism coalition of global destinations committed to quality service and green growth. The ICTP logo represents the strength in collaboration (the block) of many small communities (the lines) committed to sustainable oceans (blue) and land (green).
ICTP engages communities and their stakeholders to share quality and green opportunities including tools and resources, access to funding, education, and marketing support. ICTP advocates sustainable aviation growth, streamlined travel formalities, and fair coherent taxation.
ICTP supports the UN Millennium Development Goals, the UN World Tourism Organization's Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, and a range of programs that underpin them.
The ICTP alliance is represented in Haleiwa, Hawaii, USA; Brussels, Belgium; Bali, Indonesia; and Victoria, Seychelles.
ICTP has members in Anguilla; Aruba; Bangladesh; Belgium, Belize; Brazil; Canada; Caribbean; China; Croatia; The Gambia; Germany; Ghana; Greece; Grenada; India; Indonesia; Iran; Korea (South); La Reunion (French Indian Ocean); Malaysia; Malawi; Mauritius; Mexico; Morocco; Nicaragua; Nigeria; Northern Mariana Islands (USA Pacific Island Territory); Sultanate of Oman; Pakistan; Palestine; Philippines, Rwanda; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; South Africa; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Trinidad & Tobago; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe; and from the US: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Missouri, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.
Partner associations include: African Bureau of Conventions; African Chamber of Commerce Dallas/Fort Worth; Africa Travel Association; Boutique & Lifestyle Lodging Association; Caribbean Tourism Organization; Countrystyle Community Tourism Network/Villages as Businesses; Cultural and Environment Conservation Society; DC-Cam (Cambodia); Euro Congres; Hawaii Tourism Association; International Delphic Council (IDC); International Foundation for Aviation and Development, Montreal, Canada; International Institute for Peace Through Tourism (IIPT); International Organization of Electronic Tourism Industry (IOETI), Italy; Positive Impact Events, Manchester, UK; RETOSA: Angola - Botswana - DR Congo - Lesotho - Madagascar - Malawi - Mauritius - Mozambique - Namibia - South Africa - Swaziland - Tanzania - Zambia- Zimbabwe; Routes, SKAL International; Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH); Sustainable Travel International (STI); The Region Initiative, Pakistan; The Travel Partnership Corporation; vzw Reis-en Opleidingscentrum, Gent, Belgium; WATA World Association of Travel Agencies, Switzerland; as well as university and educational institute partners.
For more information, go to: www.tourismpartners.org
