Microsoft Co-Founder thanks the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism for dynamic partnership.

 Delegation from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism with Mr. Paul Allen Dr. Aloyce Nzuki - Managing Director Tanzania Tourism Board Egidius Mweyunge - Assistant to the Minister The Honorable Ambassador Khamis Kagasheki - Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism Mr. Ibrahim Mussa - Director of Tourism - Ministry on Natural Resources and Tourism

Amb with Christina Orr-Cahill, CEO, Experience Music Project (EMP) Museum

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• Paul Allen declares “Tanzania is a wonderful country”

By Our Reporter, Seattle, Washington.

The delegation from Tanzania’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism; headed by the Honorable Ambassador Khamis Kagasheki, Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism and also including Dr. Aloyce Nzuki, Managing Director of the Tanzania Tourism Board, enjoyed a morning meeting with Mr. Paul Allen co-founder of software giant Microsoft at the global headquarters of his investment firm Vulcan in downtown Seattle, Washington in the United States recently.

Mr. Allen requested the meeting to personally thank the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism and especially Ambassador Kagasheki and Dr. Nzuki for the recently inaugurated marketing and advertising deal between Tanzania and the Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Seahawks.  

 

Mr. Allen besides being a co-founder of Microsoft is also the owner of both clubs as well as the Portland Trailblazers where until recently Tanzania’s own Hasheem Thabeet was playing.

Mr. Allen warmly received the senior level delegation and made them aware right away that he has visited Tanzania on two previous occasions and enjoyed himself thoroughly in the land of Kilimanjaro. 

 

“I have had only great experiences in your country” said Allen as he addressed the delegation.  As it turns out, Mr. Allen is fond of the Ngorongoro Crater area of Tanzania stating “I love that area it is a wonderful place for nature and Tanzania is a wonderful country”.

The above mentioned deal gives Tanzania major advertising exposure within Century Link Stadium, where the Sounders and Seahawks play their home games in front of home crowds as big as 70,000 in stadium and several millions watching worldwide on networks like ESPN as well as streaming over the internet.  

 

The deal also places Tanzania front and center on the Sounders and Seahawks websites, TV adverts, and customized branding opportunities. 

According to the independent market research firm Repucom, the impression numbers for the partnership are 800+ million per calendar year.  This number was estimated  based on television viewership and in stadium attendance for all events.

 

 What this means is that between people watching matches in stadium and on TV around the world that the Destination Tanzania advertising in Century Link Stadium will be viewed over 800 million times in one year.

Seattle is a very key market in targeting travelers from the United States especially along the West Coast.  Amongst all major American cities, Seattle, has a very dynamic population that has high disposable income and enjoys travelling long distances to foreign locations for vacation. 

 

 This number increases significantly amongst fans of the Seattle Sounders and Seattle Seahawks.  Ideally Seattle and especially the sports teams are a key combination in attracting tourist to Tanzania.

Mr. Allen reinforced he faith in this agreement and its ability to drive awareness and tourist to Tanzania. “Most Americans do not realize how fantastic Tanzania is” said Allen “It definitely needs to be promoted and improved and this relationship is a great step towards that.” added Allen. Mr. Kagasheki invited Mr. Allen to return to Tanzania very soon but this time as an official guest of the Republic. 

 

 “The doors of Tanzania remain open to you as I am very sure there is a lot that you can offer our country” said Mr. Kagasheki.

Mr. Allen was very honored by the offer and said that he would like to take the Ambassador up on his offer in the very near future. Before the meeting adjourned, Mr. Allen presented everyone in the delegation with an autographed copy of his book Idea Man and additionally personally invited the delegation to visit the Experience Music Project (EMP) Museum also located in Seattle. 

 

 Mr. Allen, an avid lover of music built the museum to honor musical greats of past and present. The delegation visited the EMP later in the day where they were given a personal tour by the EMP’s CEO, Mrs. Christine Orr-Cahill.