Tanzania is preparing to cash in on the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa by inviting participating teams to use its Chinese-built modern stadium here for warm-up games.
President Jakaya Kikwete has set up a five-member ministerial committee to spear head the country's ambition with the goal of publicizing Tanzania as a preferred tourism and investment destination.
"We are well prepared and our strategies are so far on the right track. We expect several teams to camp and play friendly matches in the country and an influx of fans coming to the Southern Africa region to cheer their teams in the period leading to the World Cup," Shukuru Kawambwa, chair of the presidential committee and Infrastructure Development Minister told journalists here.
He said that the Tanzanian government, in cooperation with the private sector, had raised approximately US$5.8 million for marketing the country through various world media including channels of SuperSport, BBC, CNBC, Al Jazeera, Voice of America and Deutsche Welle.
"We have already initiated efforts to market Tanzania across the globe as an ideal country for teams to camp ahead of the World Cup. We believe that fans heading to South Africa will also wish to visit our tourist sites," Kawambwa said, affirming that security for all was guaranteed.
A representative of Tourism Working Group under the presidential committee, Nicola Colangelo said hotels in the country were ready to receive extra guests heading to South Africa.
Other ministers on the committee are Shamsa Mwangunga for Tourism, Lawrence Masha for Home Affairs, which is responsible for internal security and immigration, Joel Bendera for Information, Culture and Sport and Jeremiah Sumar for Finance and Economic Affairs.
Meanwhile, Tanzania Football Federation president Leodegar Tenga said at least two teams of the World Cup finalists were expected to set up training camps in the country.
He did not mention the teams but said that the Federation had been in touch with football officials in Germany, Denmark, Italy and Netherlands. It has also discussed the matter with Asian football leaders in Japan, Australia, South Korea and North Korea as well as Paraguay and Brazil in South America.
He said contacts had also been made with five of the six African countries that have qualified for the finals, namely Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Nigeria and Algeria. The finals are due to kick off on 10 June 2010.
Other South African neighboring countries, including Zimbabwe and Angola, are working hard to convince teams to camp in their countries during the global football extravaganza while attracting tourists to stay in there.
By Apolinari Tairo.
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