00:07For businessman Mustafa Kato, the UAE has long been a second home.
00:12He spent nearly four decades in the tourism industry, moving between Dubai and Tanzania,
00:17serving both corporate and leisure travelers.
00:20But recent tensions involving Iran and the disruption to flights and business have hit
00:26hard, forcing him to relocate his family back to Tanzania.
00:30Tanzanian travel agents in the whole, they have been hit because we've had huge cancellations
00:36for Eid people going to Dubai, for Easter holidays going to Dubai.
00:41So we have lost a big chunk of people who do not wish to go to Dubai at this time.
00:47The impact is being felt beyond tourism.
00:51Supply challenges linked to the conflict have pushed up global oil prices, raising concerns
00:56for import-dependent economies like Tanzania.
00:58Authorities say they are taking measures to cushion businesses and maintain steady fuel
01:04supplies.
01:07We do not expect the situations we are seeing in other regions to occur here in our country.
01:13We will ensure at all times that fuel remains available.
01:18Aviation and tourism in the Middle East have also taken a hit.
01:21In Dubai, more than 80,000 travel bookings were cancelled in the first week of the conflict
01:26as airports faced intermittent closures and uncertainty, leading to millions of dollars
01:32in losses.
01:33Reports show visitor arrivals in the Middle East could decline by between 11 and 27 percent
01:39in 2026.
01:40Business people like Mustafa view the downturn as collateral damage from the conflict, arguing
01:46that a swift resolution to the conflict would help revive tourism, not only in the Middle
01:51East, but also in countries like Tanzania.
01:54There are early signs of recovery.
01:56After a brief suspension, Dubai's national carrier Emirates is set to increase flights to
02:02Tanzania from April 1st, a possible sign that conditions are stabilizing.
02:06But Mustafa warns businesses are not yet out of the woods.
02:11The only challenge is those big traders who bring containers to Tanzania, they have a challenge
02:17because of the shipping lines getting delayed, freight charges going up.
02:24And again, another issue is Air Tanzania has not been flying to Dubai since then, apart
02:30from one repatriation flight.
02:33Mustafa says diplomacy will be key to restoring stability, while accurate reporting can help
02:39limit further damage to businesses.
02:41He believes a return to peace will eventually revive opportunities for Tanzanian entrepreneurs.
02:48Isaac Lukato, CGTN, Dar es Salaam.
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