http://www.english.hadhramaut.info Pavillion tents with some participants and camel rides from previous Karibu events [The Source: www.arushatimes.co.tz - 31/05/2009] A brainchild of the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators and Tanzania Tourist Board, the ‘Karibu’ fair, slated for the 5th, 6th and 7th of June this year, marks its 10th anniversary as the only Travel and Tourism fair in the Eastern and Central African region. ‘Karibu’ coined from the Swahili term meaning ‘Welcome’ is also one of the only two Travel and Tourism fairs taking place annually on the African continent. The other one is the Durban held ‘Indaba’ of South Africa. Exhibitors and Delegates who have confirmed their participation in this year’s event so far are from, Tanzania mainland, Zanzibar, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, DR-Congo, South Africa, Belgium, United Kingdom and China. which attends the event for the first time. Participants include international travel agents, airline companies, voyage operators, tourist hotels, tour companies, Insurance firms, researchers, travel writers, documentary producers and individual travelers. The show which debuted mid-1999 at Burka area has year-in and year-out been held within tented pavilions pitched on open air grounds of Kisongo, in the suburbs of Arusha municipality, the open space is owned by the Prisons department. . The Tanzania Association of Tour Operators is working hard to acquire Karibu’s own grounds where permanent show pavilions will be constructed. Speaking in his office, the Executive Secretary for TATO, Mustafa Akonaay revealed that effective next year Karibu Travel Fair will operate as its own entity after being registered as a Limited Liability company. “The event has been run as an affiliate institution under the Tour Operators’ organization. Karibu Travel Fair is opened to the public except on the first day. Last year the attendance record, if ticket sales were anything to go by, reached 6000 people. The expectation this year, after massive promotional efforts, is the number to hit 10,000 according to organizers.