ARUSHA: EAST African Community (EAC) member states are seeking to harmonise tourism policies, licensing requirements and service standards to strengthen the region’s competitiveness in the global tourism market.
The move was discussed by permanent secretaries responsible for tourism and wildlife at a meeting in Arusha on October 14, 2026, ahead of the 13th Meeting of the Sectoral Council on Tourism and Wildlife Management scheduled for today.
Opening the meeting, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation responsible for East African affairs, Charles Kadonya, said stronger regional cooperation was essential to maximise tourism’s contribution to economic growth, employment and people’s welfare.
He said the region’s diverse attractions, including internationally recognised national parks, wildlife reserves, mountains, beaches, lakes, marine ecosystems and cultural and historical heritage, gave EAC countries a strong position in the global tourism market.
“Our countries are endowed with unique tourism attractions. These resources place us in a distinctive position to compete in the global tourism market,” he said.
ALSO READ: Tanzania orders vaccination of all livestock as identification campaign rages on countrywide
However, Mr Kadonya said the region’s ability to fully benefit from its tourism potential depended on effective cooperation, aligned policies and standards, joint destination marketing, improved transport infrastructure and sustainable investment.
The permanent secretaries also discussed strengthening joint efforts to market the EAC as a single tourism destination, alongside measures to conserve wildlife and biodiversity while ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources.
The meeting also reviewed the implementation of decisions and directives from previous sessions and sought to establish policy and strategic priorities for the sustainable development of the sector.
The discussions are expected to inform deliberations at the sectoral council meeting, which will focus on advancing regional cooperation in tourism development and wildlife management.
The post EAC moves to harmonise tourism policies, licensing, and service standards to bolster its global market appeared first on Daily News.