Media told to promote tourist sites in Mbeya

Media told to promote tourist sites in Mbeya

By  Hawa Mathias,The Citizen Correspondent

Posted  Thursday, October 10  2013 

In Summary

“Most of the people from within and outside the country do not know what Mbeya can offer in terms of tourism and investment. So it is important for the media to promote attraction sites which are found in the region,” said Ms Manduka.

Mbeya. Media practitioners in the have been urged to promote tourist attractions and other resources found in the region in a bid to attract visitors and investors.

According to the Mbeya statistics and planning officer, Ms Rukia Manduka, journalists’ initiatives enable the region’s economy to grow.

She said despite the fact that there are many attractions in the region, few tourists have been visiting the region.

“Most of the people from within and outside the country do not know what Mbeya can offer in terms of tourism and investment. So it is important for the media to promote attraction sites which are found in the region,” said Ms Manduka.

She was optimistic that a campaign through the media will help the region to open up for more visitors as well as investors, eventually creating employment opportunities for Mbeya residents.

Meanwhile, regional authorities here were planning to provide training in horticulture to farmers in the region.

According to Ms Manduka, the decision was reached after Songwe International Airport was opened. The facility will be crucial in export of horticultural products.

“The opening of the airport presents to us an opportunity to embark on horticulture farming. Initially, it was difficult for farmers to engage in the horticulture due to the nature of the business,” she said.