BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF., Feb. 5, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At a private VIP reception held recently at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, Vice Mayor of Beverly Hills, Julian Gold, joined by former Mayor, Jimmy Delshad, presented a proclamation honoring the people of Tanzania to Dr. Adelhelm James Meru, Permanent Secretary, Tanzania's Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism. Dr. Meru, leading a 25- person high level Tanzania Tourism delegation which included three members of Parliament, Hon. Mwanahamisi Kassim Saidi, Hon. Susan Kiwanga and Hon. Peter Msigwa, presented a Tanzanian wood carving to Vice Mayor Julian Gold as an expression of appreciation on behalf of H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Lazaro Nyalandu, Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, H.E. Liberata Mulamula, Tanzania Ambassador to the United States of America in Washington DC, and the entire delegation.
Two famous Hollywood actors, Lou Gossett, Jr., who filmed "Bush Baby" in Tanzania and Richard Roundtree, famous for his role in the movie "Shaft", also attended the reception to honor the Tanzania delegation.
Organized by the Tanzania Tourist Board, the reception launched a three-city travel agent promotion in the west coast of the United States which included Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. The promotional visit was to show support for Tanzania's American tourism partners, agents, tour operators, airlines, and media as well as to provide an update on the expanding tourism product, new infrastructure and air connections.
Tanzania has become the top destination of 2015 for the American traveler. It was named one of the "Best Places to Travel in 2015" by Travel + Leisure, featured in The"52 Places to Go In 2015" by The New York Times and Tanzania's Ruaha National Park was featured on Afar Magazine's "2015 Where to Go" list.
"We are confident that 2015 will be a year of continued growth from the American Market especially since destination Tanzania is on so many 'hot lists' of places to go," noted Dr. Adelhelm Meru.
Devota Mdachi, Tanzania Tourist Board's Acting Managing Director, said "The west coast of the United States is one of the largest tourism generating markets for Tanzania and we expect this to increase as Ethiopian Airlines opens its new gateway in Los Angeles and Turkish Airlines opens its new gateway in San Francisco."
The public sector accompanying Dr. Adelhelm James Meru, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT) of The United Republic of Tanzania include: Members of Parliament: Hon. Mwanahamisi Kassim Saidi, MP; Hon. Susan Kiwanga, MP; and Hon. Peter Msigwa, MP; from Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT): Zahoro A. Kimwaga, Director of Tourism, MNRT; Collin Machella, Tourism Officer, MNRT; Simon Odunga, Principal Conservator, Antiquity Division, MNRT; and Charles Mulokozi, Assistant Director of the Wildlife Division, MNRT;from the Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania: Immaculata Diyamett, Tourism Officer; From Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB): Devota Mdachi, Acting Managing Director, TTB and Deogratias Malogo, Research and Development Manager, TTB; from Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA): Ibrahim Mussa, Director of Tourism and Marketing, TANAPA and Catherine Mbena, Senior Corporate Communication Officer, TANAPA; from Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA): Asantael Melita, Principal Officer, NCAA and Egidius Mweyunge, Manager ¬ Legal Services, NCAA; and from The Bradford Group/ Tanzania Tourist Board USA: Karen Hoffman and Chanel LeMond.
The private sector included Nicola Colangelo and Carolina Colangelo from Coastal Aviation; Deepesh Gupta from Auric Air Services; Rashid Adam from Zara Tours; Komail Ismail and Salim Ebrahim from Wellworth Hotels & Lodges; Sascha Bullen from Precision Air; and Nuria Panizo from Tanganyika Wilderness Camps.
Also present at the VIP reception were Tanzania Tourism's Goodwill Ambassadors in the US, Macon Dunnagan, who just completed his 36th summit of Kilimanjaro, and Patrick Steenberge, Founder & President of Global Football, and author of the recently published TupandeKileleni: Lets Climb to the Summit Together, the story of the first Global Football game in Arusha.
ABOUT TANZANIA
Tanzania, the largest country in East Africa, is focused on wildlife conservation and sustainable tourism, with approximately 28% of the land protected by the Government, the largest percentage of any country in the world. It boasts of 16 National Parks and 32 Game Reserves, 50 Game Controlled Areas, one special Conservation Area (the Ngorongoro) and three Marine Parks. It is home to the tallest mountain in Africa, the legendary Mt. Kilimanjaro; The Serengeti, home to the "Great Animal Migration" that was named the New 7th Wonder of the World, by USA Today and ABC TV's Good Morning America; the world acclaimed Ngorongoro Crater, often referred to as the "Eden of Africa" and the "8th Wonder of the World"; Olduvai Gorge, the cradle of mankind: the Selous, the world's largest game reserve; Ruaha, now the second largest National Park in Africa; the spice islands of Zanzibar; and seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Most important for visitors, the Tanzanian people, with a rich history and diverse blend of cultures, are warm and friendly. Tanzania, an oasis of peace and stability with a democratically elected and stable government, will celebrate its 54rd anniversary of Independence on December 9th, 2015.
For more information on Tanzania, visit www.tanzaniatourism.go.tz.
Photos Attached:
Photo 1: From Left to right; Louis Gossett Jr, Actor; Jimmy Delshad, Former Mayor of Beverly Hills, California; Julian Gold, Vice Mayor, City of Beverly Hills, California; Dr. Adelhelm Meru, Tanzania's Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism; and Richard Roundtree, Actor.
Photo 2: The Tanzania Delegation led by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr. Adelhelm Meru posed in a group picture during the launch of the tourism promotion campaign in the US West Coast at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The delegation included three Members of Parliament, Hon. Mwanahamisi Kassim Saidi, MP; Hon. Susan Kiwanga, MP; and Hon. Peter Msigwa, MP.
Photos by Andy Sheng
Photos accompanying this release are available at:
