What global Esperanto congress bring to Tanzania

TANZANIA: WITH Tanzania hosting the historic global Esperanto congress, the country is aggressively seeking to capitalise on the event to attract mega investments in key sectors including hospitality industry.

Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Dunstan Kitandula has wooed Esperanto speakers to come to invest in the tourist sector in Tanzania, insisting, they will not regret their decision.

Esperanto is an artificial language devised in 1887 as an international medium of communication, based on roots from the chief European languages.

It retains the structure of these languages and has the advantage of grammatical regularity and ease of pronunciation.

Most of its speakers are based in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Brazil, the United States, Poland, Italy, Germany, France and the USA.

However, there are also many Esperanto speakers in China and Japan. It was created to fight nationalism and to promote internationalism and mutual understanding.

He said as Esperanto has been recoginesed by UNESCO as an international language, likewise Tanzania’s heritage of national parks and wild animals, is also a world’s heritage.

Mr Kitandula said it in Arusha yesterday while opening the 109th Esperanto World Congress on behalf of the minister responsible for Natural Resources and Tourism, Angellah Kairuki.

The event takes place at the Arusha International Conference Center (AICC) from yesterday to August 10th this year.

This is the first time, in the 137-year history of the international language that the Universal Congress of Esperanto is taking place on the African continent and Tanzania hosts the maiden event. Participants hail from 66 countries around the world attracting nearly 830 participants.

After several decades of increasing spread of Esperanto in Africa, this first World Congress on the continent is yet another milestone achievement for the international community of Esperanto speakers.

Tanzania has a total of 160 participants, while other delegates from more than a dozen of other African countries. And, the deputy minister is confident that the congress will leave a great mark in Tanzania in terms of number of investments registered.

Apart from promoting available investment opportunities in the tourist sector in Tanzania, he also urged all participants while in Arusha, to spare time and visit various tourist attractions in the country like Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park, attractive beaches in Zanzibar, Manyara National Park, Arusha National Park, Tarangire National Park and so many others.

“Ladies and gentlemen, as Esperanto is an international language, Tanzania’s heritage of national parks and wildlife, is also a world’s heritage, so everyone of you has a chance to participate in the investment in the tourism sector in Tanzania,” said Mr. Kitandula.

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On the other hand, he said that Tanzania will honour the respect given by the Community of Esperanto speakers in the world to choose the country to host the congress.

Mr Kitandula noted that Esperanto is an international language with no tribal and or national identity background of any nation and the speakers are the owners of the language, which was recognised by UNESCO as an international language in 1954.

He also told participants that Tanzania is a safe country and has great experience in coordinating and hosting such big international meetings.

“We assure Esperanto leaders and you all that we will honour this respect that you have bestowed to us. I call on you whenever you plan to hold other big meetings, you should not hesitate to choose Tanzania as your host,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of Arusha Regional Commissioner, Arumeru District Commissioner, Emmanuela Kaganda said that more than 800 people from more than 66 countries in the world are participating in the congress.

Kaganda told the participants that Arusha Region’s priority is to attract investors to invest in hospitality industry, especially in areas of transportation, conference facilities, hotel and lodges, modern movie theatres and sports arenas as Tanzania will host AFCON 2027.

During the congress, there will be walks in the city as well as smaller excursions. Tanzania will showcase its culture and tourism attractions forming part of the programme.

On Wednesday, there will be day trips. Destinations include the Arusha, Ngorongoro and Tarangire national parks, hot springs, a snake park, a Maasai village, a giraffe centre, the edge of Mount Kilimanjaro and a coffee plantation.