Tanzania plans to charge every foreign tourist a mandatory insurance fee before they enter the country. Finance Minister Mwigulu Nchemba announced that visitors must pay 44 dollars for medical coverage and other travel protection. The insurance will help tourists who face medical emergencies, lose their luggage, or need emergency flights home. Officials want to make sure travelers feel safe when they visit Tanzania's famous wildlife parks and beaches. The government believes this new rule will attract more visitors who worry about getting sick or having accidents.
The policy was supposed to start immediately but lawmakers pushed the date back to January. Parliament members wanted more time to work out the details with tourism companies and insurance providers. Zanzibar already started a similar program last October that charges tourists for mandatory coverage. Travel experts worry that people visiting both places might have to pay twice for the same type of insurance. This could confuse tourists and make Tanzania look like it has two different systems.
People from nearby African countries will not have to pay the new insurance fee. Citizens from East African Community and Southern African Development Community nations can visit without buying the mandatory coverage. Tourism businesses are watching closely to see how the new rules affect their customers and booking systems.
The policy was supposed to start immediately but lawmakers pushed the date back to January. Parliament members wanted more time to work out the details with tourism companies and insurance providers. Zanzibar already started a similar program last October that charges tourists for mandatory coverage. Travel experts worry that people visiting both places might have to pay twice for the same type of insurance. This could confuse tourists and make Tanzania look like it has two different systems.
People from nearby African countries will not have to pay the new insurance fee. Citizens from East African Community and Southern African Development Community nations can visit without buying the mandatory coverage. Tourism businesses are watching closely to see how the new rules affect their customers and booking systems.
