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Tourists assured of more security ahead of Tanzania's polls

Xinhua, October 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

The northern Tanzanian authorities on Tuesday assured tourists of their safety ahead of the general elections slated for October 25.

"As police force and other security agencies, we are encouraging tourists to continue coming in Tanzania and their security is guaranteed 100 percent despite the fact that the country is heading into the General Election," Arusha Regional Police Commander Liberatus Sabas told Xinhua on Tuesday.

The move came at the time when it the high season for tourism activities and election temperature continues to mount across Tanzania - the east African nation, which embraced multiparty democracy in 1990s.

Sabas said that his force has a tourism Police Unit, which is being equipped with vehicles and other related facilities to strengthen security for tourists.

"So, visitors shouldn't worry anything... they should continue coming in Tanzania and enjoy the best of this country."

"Apart from having special police team, we've police officers in most crucial areas, all these show how we're serious with the safety and security of our visitors and the general public," the regional police chief said.

He added that during the election time his force will reinforce security across the Tanzania's tourism circuit.

Felix Ntibenda is the chairman of Arusha Regional Security Committee who also assured tourists that all necessary precautions have been taken to make sure they are safe, when visiting tourist destinations of Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti, Tarangire and Manyara national parks.

"Arusha is a very peaceful place and we're determined to sustain that positive reputation. We have intensified security measures to ensure that everybody is safe," the official said.

In the past four years, Arusha - the main gateway to thrilling tourist destinations, was on the headlines because of series of bomb blasts, though for almost one year the Arusha and the country at large remained safe.

Tourism as the country's major foreign exchange earner; hence the need for security to be reinforced remained important.

Last year, tourism sector contributed 2 billion dollars from more than 1 million tourists visited the east African nation and the country's projection is to register two million visitors. Endit