TANZANIA ASSOCIATION OF TOUR OPERATORS (TATO)
MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT TATO OFFICE
ON 27TH MARCH, 2014.
PRESENT
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Mr. Wilbard Chambulo
Mr. Peter Lindstrom
Mrs Vesna Glamocanin Tibaijuka
Ms Rahma Adam
Mrs. Maria Strauss
Mr. Zuher Fazal
Mr. Hussein N. Hussein
Mr. Sam Diah
Mr. Alex Lemunge
Mr. Sirili Akko
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Chairman
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Management Staff
Vice Chairman
Treasurer
Councillor
Councillor
Councillor
Councillor
Councillor
Councillor
Ag. E/Secretary
SECRETARIAT
1. Mr. Kelvin Remen
MIN. 1.0 OPENING OF THE MEETING
Upon having enough quorum Acting Executive Secretary invited the Chairman to open the
meeting. The Chairman called the meeting to order at 09.37 a.m and called upon the Acting
Executive Secretary to read the Notice calling the meeting.
MIN 2.0:
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
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2.
MIN. 3.0
Mr. David Kizito
Mr. Leopold Kabendera
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Councillor
Ex. Chairman
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
The following agenda were adopted:
AGENDA
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9.
Opening of the Meeting
Apologies for Absence
Adoption of the Agenda
Confirmation of the Minutes of the Meeting held on 27th February, 2014
Matters arising there-from.
Secretary's Report
Treasurer's Report
Report from the Sub-committees
Any Other Business
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10. Dates of the next Council Meeting
11. Closing of the Meeting.
MIN. 4.0
CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
CONFIRMED:
That Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 27th February, 2014 were
confirmed and signed.
&
SIGNED
MIN. 5.0
MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF 27.07.2014 MEETING
MIN. 5.1.
EVALUATION OF TATO STRATEGIC PLAN 2008 – 2012 (MIN.5.1)
NOTED:
That the Strategic Plan is yet to be re-advertised. Suggested that the adverts be
circulated to the consultant who did the ended strategic plan.
MIN.5.2.
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE SEMINAR(MIN.5.2)
INFORMED: That currently all MPs are attending Constitutional Assembly.
MIN. 5.3.
LAND FOR TATO OFFICE (MIN. 5.4)
INFORMED: That Land for TATO office is yet to be obtained and that letter ref. M.07/8/89
dated 21st March, 2014 was written to the Municipal Council Director to remind
him of the issue.
MIN. 5.4.
TWIGA TIMES SPECIAL ISSUE FOR FUNDING CONSERVATION
PROJECTS (MIN.5.6)
REPORTED: That all received issue of Twiga Times has been circulated to members and other
Institutions. The exercise will continue until the end the stock.
RESOLVED: That the contract between TATO and Twiga Times editor be searched and be
tabled to the Council for review.
MIN. 5.5.
PER DIEM RATES FOR COUNCILS AND STAFF ATTENDING
MEETINGS (MIN. 5.7)
INTERNATION RATES
NOTED:
It was noted that the following rates are applicable:
1. Training US $ ........................................................................336
2. Sponsored training US $ 126 (30% of the full amount of per diem)
3. Non subsidized trips US $ 420, Euro 325, British Pounds 225(plus incidental
and transit (if applicable)
4. Incidentals 20% increment
5. Transit Rate 50% increment (six hours and more).
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The rates based on Government rates.
MIN. 5.6.
DONATION OF 15 NEW MOTOR CYCLES TO ARUSHA RPC (MIN. 5.8)
NOTED:
The Council noted that the Motor Cycles were handedover to the Regional Police
Commander by the Arusha Regional Commissioner on 13th February, 2014 in
presence of TATO delegation.
MIN. 5.7.
RENOVATION AND FULL FURNISH OF TOURISM POLICE UNIT
OFFICE(MIN. 5.9)
REPORTED: That the work is still on drawing stage.
INFOREMD: That TATO received a letter from Tourism Police Unit in-charge requesting
TATO to sponsor training to police staff.
AGREED:
That building of the office be completed first before implementing other activities
and capacity building.
MINI. 5.8.
TATO TOURISM INFORMATION CENTRE AT KIA (MIN.5.10)
INFORMED: The contract is awaited of which after receiving it, Chairman and Treasurer will
approve.
MIN. 5.9.
OUTSTANDING PAYMENT OF OCTOBER, 2013 REMUNERATION
OF US $ 3,500 TO MR. AKUNAAY (MIN. 5.11)
NOTED:
The Council noted that the issue has been reported to the Association’s Legal
Advisor for the advice.
MIN. 5.10.
ENGAGEMENT OF MARO & COMPANY, ADVOCATES AS TATO
LEGAL ADVISOR. (MIN. 5.12)
INFOREMD: That advance payment of US $ 6000 was paid to Maro & Company, Advocates on 3rd
March, 2014.
MIN. 5.11.
REFUND PAYMENT TO LEOPARD TOURS (MIN.5.13)
NOTED:
That the refund was made on 3rd March, 2014.
MIN. 5.12.
2014 NEW MEMBERSHIP FEE (MIN. 5.14)
PROPOSED: That the Secretariat proposed that the Extra-Ordinary Meeting be held after this
Council meeting.
AGREED:
That a meeting between TATO Council and members who have signed a letter of
disagreeing with new membership fee be organized on the intention of educating
them on what TATO is doing and listen to their concerns
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MIN. 5.13.
REPORT ON MOUNTAIN CLIMBING (MIN.5.16)
The appointed Committee to report after the current report to Kilimanjaro RC
which is still on progress.
MIN. 5.14.
PREPARATIONS OF 2014 KARIBU FAIR (MIN.5.19)
REPORTED: Karibu Chairperson reported that webpage operator had no contract with
Karibu Fair and charges are not clear.
AGREED:
That IT experts should sort out and give their opinions of what is possible to do
and what is not possible.
INFORMED:
That there is high possibility of changing the Karibu Fair venue to The
Legendary (also known TGT) grounds instead of Magereza grounds. There is
more advantages of The legendary Grounds over magereza grounds some of
them are as follows;
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LD toilets available
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No dust at the ground
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The ground is bigger.
The rent for land for all three days will not be more than US $ 3,000 only.
AGREED:
That the Sub-committee in collaboration with Staff continues with the
preparation of the fair with full mandate of deciding for the very interest of the
fair provided current time and resources.
MIN. 5.15.
TATO CONSERVATION SUPPORT(MIN.9.1)
RESOLVED: After much discussion it was decided that the activities of the Conservation
Sub - Committee put on hold for a while to resolve certain issues and that
any Conservation initiative must have the blessing of the Council.
MIN. 5.16.
MEMBERSHIP OF KIGOMA HILTOP OWNED BY MOHSIN
ABDALAH (MIN.10.0)
REPORTED: That TATO legal advisor had warned that the decision is not procedural and
unconstitutional.
RESOLVED: That the issue be closed basing on the advice from the Association’s legal
advisor
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MIN.6.0.
SECRETARY’S REPORT
MIN. 6.1.
MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION PAYMENT 2014
NOTED:
That, as on 25th March, 2014 payment including new members was as follows:
Category “A”...................18
Category “B”...................79
Hotel................................13
Airlines...............................1
Affiliate ............................ 1
TOTAL..........................112
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MIN. 6.2.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
GRANTED: Membership application of the following companies were granted:
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Lacasarena Tours & Safaris Ltd
Safari By Design Ltd
Makoa Farm Ltd
MICATO Safari (T) Ltd
Milestone Lodge & Safaris Ltd
Asda Tanzania Ltd
Kampi Kampi Serengeti Ltd
Makasa Safaris Ltd.
MIN. 6.3.
MEETING REPORTS
MIN. 6.3.1.
21st Trade Negotiation Forum services meeting
INFORMED: That the meeting organized by Southern African Development Community
(SADC) Secretariat was held on 10 -14th March, 2014 in Johannesburg, South
Africa.
The theme of the meeting was to discuss and give feedback on the six items
which was ear marked by the SADC countries to unfasten business conditions
between countries. The following items was discussed and each country was
given time to go and find out if there is any condition regarding Law/regulation
which differentiates treatment between locals and foreign services supplier.
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2.
Tourism and Travel Related Services
Financial services
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6.
MIN. 6.3.2.
Energy
Transport Services
Communication Services
Construction
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT LAB
REPORTED: That the Government has partnered with the private sector and organised a
Business Environment Lab at the Kunduchi Beach Resort from 24th February to
21st March 2014 to develop time-bound solutions for revitalising the
business climate in the country. The Labs outputs shall include costed
implementation plans, and Key Performance Indicators to facilitate the monitoring
of their implementation.
There were six (6) work streams in the Lab, namely (i) Curbing Corruption, (ii)
Realigning Regulation and Institution, (iii) Access to Land and Security of Tenure,
(iv) Labour Laws and Skills Set, (v) Taxation and Multiplicity of Levies, Fees and
Charges; and (vi) Contract Enforcement, Law and Order.
TATO was represented by the Project Officer in a work stream on taxation and
multiplicity of fees, levies and charges. The main task of this work stream was to
propose solutions for the taxes, charges, levies which appear to be cumbersome for
the business environment. Since all sectors were presented in this work stream the
focus/priority was to deal with taxes/charges which are crossing cutting to all
business sectors. The work stream proposed the following;
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Removal of 0.15% excise duty on money transfer
Removal of 5% Withholding Taxes on services
Removal of 0.3% Service Levy
Renewal of Business license after five (5) years
Reduction of Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA) medical
inspection fee from Tshs 45,000 per worker to Tshs 10,000
All the Regulatory Authorities to remit all their revenue collections to
Treasury and be allocated with budget like other Government Agencies
and Ministries
Establishment of Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) mechanism in both
central and local Governments which will ensure that private sector are
properly and fully consulted in the process of formulating, reviewing
policies and regulations.
Blocking the proposed VAT Draft Bill from being tabled in the parliament
so as to allow for more consultation with private sector as no enough
consultations were made on the proposed Bill. The proposed VAT Bill
also contradicts with other laws like TIC and EPZA Acts.
Removal of TALA License fee (Still under discussion)
Full report to follow.
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MIN. 6.3.3. MEETING WITH TANZANIA TOUR GUIDES ASSOCIATIONS (TTGA)
INFORMED: That the leaders and Board member of TTGA visited TATO office for the sole
purpose of cementing the good relation existing between the two. They requested
to relevant trainings and information for mutual fulfilment and understanding.
MIN. 6. 3.4. BRIEF MEETING WITH ELIZABETH A. PELLETREAU (FIRST
SECRETARY POLITICAL ECONOMIC AFFAIRS US EMBASSY
TANZANIA)
NOTED:
That the meeting was held at TATO office on 25th March 2014 with acting E.S.
(Mr. Sirili Akko) She reassured the support of American Government on improved
Business Environment and Wildlife Security in Tanzania, particularly on WMAs.
MIN. 7.0.
FINANCIAL REPORT
MIN. 7.1.
BANK BALANCE
NOTED:
That Bank Balance as at 26th March, 2014 stood at:
Foreign currency A/C………………………US $ 110,580.76
Fixed Deposit A/C………………………….US $ 28,467.41
TOTAL ……………………………………..US $139,047.17
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Local A/C………………………………….TShs. 35,725,759.62
MIN. 7.2.
BUDGET FOR 2014
TABLED:
The Treasurer tabled Budget Estimate for FY 2014
NOTED:
Projected Income: TShs. 397,928,000=
APPROVED: Expenditure of TShs. 397,928,000 was approved.
AGREED:
MIN. 8.0
That the title of Conservation Support funds on Expenditure items be change to
another name.
REPORT FROM SUB-COMMITTEES
There was no report.
MIN. 9.0.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
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MIN. 9.1.
TRAINING OF MWEKA COLLEGE STUDENTS
REPOTED: That apprenticeship/training of Mweka college students as TATO has given
promise to assist with that; there are 25-30 tourism students that would need 4
week training in June 2014.
COMMITED: That TATO Chairman Mr. Wilbard Chambulo agreed to offer two of his
properties for free in case TATO will be conducting training for the guides and
other stakeholders (such as porters etc). Councilor Mr. Zuher Fazal offered
chances for Mweka students at Leopard Tours for field training.
MIN. 10.0.
DATE OF THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
AGREED:
8th May, 2014
MIN. 11.00
CLOSING OF THE MEETING
The Chairman adjourned meeting at 11.45 a.m.
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CHAIRMAN
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SECRETARY
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DATE
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