Meatu: The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu has been cited for encouraging the victory of the Tanzania Leading Luxury Tented Safari Camp 2025 Award which went to Mwiba Lodge located in Meatu district, Simiyu region.
The World Travel Awards were held in Dar es Salaam last week.
This first historic victory for the Simiyu region and Mwiba Lodge, one of the five-star hotels, located on the border of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority and the Serengeti National Park, has been received with joy by the Government and the Citizens.
Speaking to journalists, the Meatu District Commissioner, Mrs. Fauzia Hamidu Ngatumbura said the victory of Mwiba Lodge has become a catalyst for luxury tourism in Tanzania, due to the good work of the President, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan in opening up tourism opportunities even in areas that had never considered winning international awards.
“This is a victory for all the people of Meatu and Simiyu region, because in the past, no one would have expected world-renowned tourists to reach these areas, to do tourism and relax”, She said
The District Head said, President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan has been able to open up opportunities for the Tourism sector and has promoted all of Tanzania well and opened up opportunities for investors so far, peripheral areas are winning World Tourism Awards.
“These awards are based on tourists themselves voting around the world, now that they have been able to like the Mwiba Hotel in Meatu district, it is a great comfort to us and we call on more tourists to visit Meatu as there are many tourism attractions”, he said.
He said they congratulate Mwiba Lodge for the victory they won in the WTO awards and believe that next year they will win bigger awards to promote Meatu district, Simiyu region and Tanzania in general.
“The Meatu District Government will continue to provide cooperation to all investors and invest in a good working environment because their good performance also increases government revenue and creates more jobs”, said, Mrs. Tengia
The Manager of Mwiba Lodge, Mrs. Saraphina Albin Tengia said they have received their victory with great joy, a victory that has also resulted from the good cooperation of the employees and the Meatu community.
“On behalf of Mwiba Holding Ltd companies, we are very happy to receive this award that motivates us to do better in providing better services to tourists and the community at large” she said
She said the dedication of the employees, working professionally and honestly are among the secrets of the victory, including the large investment made in the hotel located in a beautiful natural environment surrounded by wildlife.
These awards have been held for the first time in the country since its establishment in 1993 and involve National Parks, the World Tourism Sector and Investors in the sector.
Speaking on behalf of the Director of the Meatu District Council, the District Wildlife Officer, Mrs. Joseline Mpelasoka said Mwiba Lodge deserved the award due to the good work they are doing in the Meatu District.
“Mwiba provides free meals in schools, has built wildlife protection centers, has built health centers, houses for government employees but also sponsors education for children in Meatu”, she said
She said the company, under the Friedkin Conservation Fund, has invested in tourism and conservation activities in several areas in the district which is currently known to have a large number of wildlife, including Elephants, Giraffes, Lions and others.
However, Mr. Mpelasoka said the district still has several other tourism areas that need investment and on behalf of its Director invited other investors to come to Meatu to invest.
Chairman of the Meatu District Teachers’ Union (CWT), Mr. Otieno Nundu said Mwiba’s investment in the district has been very beneficial not only for tourism but also for other sectors.
He said Mwiba has been providing free meals, providing self-awareness training to children in schools, sponsoring students in various colleges and also planting trees in various areas.
A teacher at Mwanuzi Secondary School, Meatu District, Mr. Byera Mwombeki said the investors have been able to successfully stop incidents of poaching and environmental destruction by involving students in conservation.
“They have been providing training in schools on environmental and wildlife conservation and have been sending hundreds of students every year to visit the Serengeti National Park to experience the benefits of conservation”, he said.
Mrs. Juliana Masanja, a resident of Makao, where Mwiba Lodge is located, said they believe the victory has been contributed to the good relations between them and the hotel management.
“Tourists come here despite staying at this hotel to do tourism in community areas and buy our various things, we have been the main beneficiaries of the investment in this area,” said Mrs. Masanja.
“Tourists coming here, apart from staying at this hotel, to do tourism in community areas and buy our various things, we have been the biggest beneficiaries of investment in this area,” said Ms. Masanja.
In the awards this year, Tanzania set a new record by winning a total of 27 awards in the world, with the government winning 11 awards including the best tourist attractions, the best tourism board, the best African safari tourism country, and the best airports including national parks.
The private sector won 16 awards at the awards for the first time in the history of these major awards in the world.
