Zanzibar. The minister for Home Affairs, George Simbachawene, has announced a significant strategic shift in the recruitment and training of Immigration Department personnel to boost Tanzania’s tourism sector.
In the new training system, officers would now have to possess higher educational qualifications and specialised tourism knowledge to support the nation’s rapidly expanding travel sector.
During a meeting with senior officials and rank-and-file staff in Zanzibar, Mr Simbachawene revealed that the department is being repositioned as a frontline pillar of the national economy.
“Whenever any visitor enters the country, the first person they encounter is an immigration officer, who welcomes them, and when they depart, bids them farewell. You are the receptionists; you are the face of Tanzania. You carry our hospitality, you embody our culture, and you are expected to be exemplary. When all other institutions engage with a visitor, it is you who serve as the experts in that field,” Mr Simbachawene said.
With tourism arrivals climbing from 1.92 million in 2024 to an expected 2.09 million in 2025, the government is moving to ensure that the primary point of contact for international visitors reflects the highest standards of diplomacy and hospitality.
Mr Simbachawene stated that the entry requirements for the force are evolving to meet modern global demands.
He proposed that immigration officers, including those at the entry level, should ideally hold at least a diploma to ensure they possess the intellectual capacity to act as the country’s first-line diplomats.
He emphasised that these officers are the true face of Tanzania, acting as national receptionists who carry the weight of the country’s culture and hospitality on their shoulders.
Under the new directives, recruitment and career progression will increasingly favour candidates who demonstrate academic excellence, specifically requiring a minimum of a Division Three at Form Four level to provide a foundation for further professional growth.
Furthermore, the Minister stressed the necessity of multilingualism, urging officers to become proficient in international languages such as English, French, Chinese, and Arabic.
He also directed that immigration training colleges incorporate tourism studies into their curricula so that officers are well-versed in the nation’s wildlife and attractions, enabling them to assist visitors with expert knowledge.
This push for enhanced professionalism follows reports that the tourism sector contributed approximately Sh10.14 trillion to the economy in 2024 alone.
Mr Simbachawene urged officers to protect this vital revenue stream by acting as guardians of the visitor experience, even suggesting they should intervene to assist tourists who appear to be facing difficulties or harassment within local communities.
Supporting these reforms, the Commissioner of Immigration for Zanzibar, Hassan Ally Hassan, confirmed that several infrastructure projects are underway to bolster the department’s capabilities.
These include the construction of a dedicated Immigration College in Kitogani and new regional and district offices in Mjini, Paje, and Micheweni.
The Minister concluded by warning younger officers that the path to senior leadership will become increasingly competitive, making continuous education and linguistic proficiency essential for those wishing to reach the rank of Commissioner.
