Visitors from foreign countries to Tanzania's Kilimanjaro and Serengeti national parks will have to pay hiked admission fees starting next January, after the country's tourism ministry has sealed off debate on whether to hike the fees or not.

John Manase, acting director for planning, development and tourism services in the Tanzania National Park, was on Friday quoted as saying by local media that Tourism Minister Zakia Meghjihad endorsed the proposal on entrance fee hiking.

But the acting director described the Tanzania Tour Operators Association as cherishing the opinion that gradual rather than wholesale rise of entrance fees to national parks is advisable.

Some members of the association believed that a sharp rise would only discourage tourists from visiting the national parks.

Starting January 1 next year, foreign tourists visiting Kilimanjaro and Serengeti national parks in northern Tanzania will have to pay 60 and 50 US dollars respectively instead of paying 30and 30 dollars.

For those visiting the Serengeti National Park, they have to pay 30 dollars for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area as well in that they have to pass by that area to get to their destination. Some even have to pay twice if they have to go to and return from Serengeti following the same route.

Most of the annual total of 750,000 visitors are estimated to be interested in going to the Kilimanjaro and Serengeti national parks. Tanzania now has 14 national parks in all.

For those aspiring to visit Tanzania's other national parks, they can enjoy business-as-usual admission.

Foreign tourists visiting the Arusha, Lake Manyara, Mikumi and Tarangire national parks, they will continue to pay 25 dollars while those visiting the Katavi, Kitulo, Ruaha, Rubondo, Saadani and Udzungwa national parks will pay 15 dollars.

Fees for foreigners visiting the Gombe and Mahale national parks to view chimpanzees remain unchanged at 100 dollars while those interested in just exploring nature in these two parks will be charged 50 dollars.

Tourism has been growing at an average rate of 10 percent a year to come to account for 16 percent of Tanzania's gross domestic product while 25 percent of the country's foreign currencies are derived from the tourism sector.

The trade of tourism has created 200,000 direct and indirect jobs in the country, according to tourism ministry estimates.

(Xinhua News Agency September 9, 2005)