UKEREWE: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has pledged to support government efforts to develop cultural tourism in Ukerewe District after a study identified the Lake Victoria island as having distinctive heritage assets with potential to diversify Tanzania’s tourism industry and stimulate local economic growth.
The support follows research conducted by the Institute of Rural Development Planning (IRDP) and other stakeholders, which found that Ukerewe possesses a combination of cultural, historical and traditional attractions that could strengthen tourism in the Lake Zone.
UNDP Programme Officer Veronika Fubile said the organisation sees opportunities to support tourism development as part of broader efforts to promote inclusive economic growth and the blue-green economy.
“These three features cannot be found together elsewhere but only in the Lake Zone, specifically in Ukerewe,” Ms Fubile said during a recent tourism stakeholders’ meeting in the district.
She said the district also satisfies the internationally recognised tourism requirements known as the five As—Attractions, Accessibility, Accommodation, Activities and Amenities—providing a foundation for sustainable tourism development.
The initiative aligns with Tanzania’s strategy to broaden its tourism offering beyond its traditional wildlife attractions by promoting cultural, historical and community-based tourism in different parts of the country.
IRDP Senior Lecturer Bonamax Mbasa said the study found that Ukerewe has significant untapped tourism potential despite its strategic location in Lake Victoria.
He said the district continues to attract fewer visitors than established destinations such as Arusha and Zanzibar, underscoring the need for greater investment in tourism infrastructure, marketing and product development.
According to Dr Mbasa, developing cultural tourism would create employment opportunities, expand household incomes and stimulate businesses across the local economy.
He urged residents to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the sector, including tour guiding, hospitality and cultural enterprises, while calling for continued public awareness programmes targeting service providers such as food vendors and motorcycle taxi operators.
Ukerewe District Commissioner Christopher Ngubiagai said the district is home to several unique attractions, including cultural sites, historical landmarks and natural features that distinguish it from other destinations in Tanzania.
Among them, he cited a well-known dancing stone associated with local traditions, the Lake Zone’s first colonial-era multi-storey building and stretches of red and white sand beaches along Lake Victoria.
Mr Ngubiagai said the district is seeking greater private investment in accommodation, recreation and tourism services to unlock the area’s economic potential and position Ukerewe as a leading cultural tourism destination in the Lake Zone.
He invited local and international investors to explore opportunities as the government continues to promote tourism diversification as a driver of sustainable development and job creation.