Tanzania’s recently announced Prohibition of Business Activities for Non-Citizens order, issued on July 28, has raised concerns in East Africa’s safari industry. The policy specifically prohibits employment of foreigners in certain roles, including tour guiding.
The government’s stated intention is to prioritise local employment opportunities and ensure Tanzanian citizens take the lead in these positions. However, industry voices across the region warn that the move could have consequences.
Onne Vegter, MD of Wild Wings Safaris, says his company already uses Tanzanian guides for safaris, especially in multi-country itineraries where it’s standard practice to “hand over” guests at the border, but he cautions against seeing it as a “blanket win” for job creation.
“By banning foreigners from working as guides, Tanzania loses the chance to benefit from international expertise and specialised skills,” he says. “Some guides bring unique experience in birding, photography or speaking niche languages, which may be hard to find locally. Over time, shutting out such talent could harm the industry’s competitiveness.”
Vegter says protectionist policies could encourage mediocrity if companies struggle to find highly skilled guides domestically. “We have wonderful Tanzanian guides but, when we need specialists and the law prevents us from bringing them in, we may simply choose not to sell that destination at all.”
Business as usual
For Kenyan companies, these requirements are unlikely to change much, says Bainito Musumba of Private Safaris. “To work in Tanzania, Kenyans have always required a permit,” he says. “If you try to operate without one, you’ll have officers knocking on your door daily. For us, the solution has always been simple: partner with a Tanzanian company as ground handlers. Otherwise, if you open your own company, you must have a Tanzanian partner as a director.”
Musumba explains that Kenyan drivers hand over clients at the border to Tanzanian guides. Tour leaders who travel into Tanzania with groups must have valid work permits and this hasn’t changed under the new order. “We’ve grown to see this not as a challenge but as the normal way of doing business,” he says.
While some operators have adapted to these realities, Felix Migoya, Chairman of the East Africa Tour Guides and Drivers Association, believes the new policy undermines regional tourism goals.
“Tanzania is a sovereign nation and can implement policies for its people,” Migoya acknowledges. “But, as an East African Community member, it’s unwise to approve bans on roles like tour guiding. Many operators sell Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania as one combined regional destination. This means guests often travel through multiple countries on the same itinerary. It’s frustrating for them to have to switch guides halfway simply because of economic policy.”
Migoya also stresses that some safaris require highly specialised guides, and overly strict immigration protocols at land borders slow down travel and increase costs. “Time is money in tourism,” he says. “Cumbersome procedures waste both.”
“If a company’s own tour leader will accompany clients, they must secure the correct work permit, which can cost around US$2 000 for certain categories. On multi-country safaris, itineraries should be planned so that guides change at the border with this arrangement communicated clearly to guests in advance to avoid confusion. Operators should also budget for additional costs such as permits, licence fees and local partnerships, ensuring these are factored into pricing to protect profit margins,” explains Migoya.
“Staying informed on policy changes is essential as tourism regulations in East Africa can shift quickly, making close communication with local tourism boards, associations and partners vital,” he adds.
