I was recently in Dar-es-Salaam, and realized the value of starting an airport shuttle service that makes drop offs and pick ups across the city.
What would a service like this entail?
- Standard pick-up points in 3 or 4 locations in the city;
- A standard drop-off and pick-up point at Julius Nyerere International Airport;
- A daily service that makes 2 or 3 trips across the city and to the airport.
Why would this service be useful?
- Minimizes on transport costs for travellers without vehicles;
- Consolidates a travel route for other common public transport providers;
- It could support local businesses and encourage tourism.
How would this service support local businesses?
- It could build partnerships with hotels, Dala Dala services and shopping centers to create strategic pick-up and drop-off points;
- It could create more jobs if the service is replicated and frequented;
- It could advertise services provided to tourists and travellers while the bus is moving (on the side of the bus as well as inside the bus).
Where would one start looking to implement this service?
- Dala Dala routes that already maintain service to the airport area (but not just the airport area);
- Tour operators that privately handle airport pick-ups and drop-offs;
- Hotels that privately handle airport pick-ups and drop-offs;
- Private van owners that have the resources to start this but are caught up with other routes.
I know in Arusha there is a drop-off service like this. However it is organized by Precision Air and a year ago costed around TShs. 10,000 one way from Arusha to Kilimanjaro Airport. Your suggestion could be a good idea, b’se taxis to the airport are normally expensive and also it is a hustle to park at the airport at times.
In addition, it costs to park a private vehicle at the airport (500/= I believe if you are there for anything less than 20 minutes.. fees are probably higher for longer stays).
Consumer costs could also be reduced, especially for those making frequent trips to the airport (either for work or travel), if there was some kind of loyalty system implemented. That is, passengers could opt to buy a monthly or bi-monthly plan.
Thanks for your comments. I would like to see this conversation developed in the future and possibly be implemented. So many ideas, so little time!
cool idea. someone should put this into practise
Maan, I like this idea, this is one of the things that Nyerere Airport lacks and desperately needs. However, there will be people who will say, well this is going to take away the jobs of the common people, the taxi drivers who are already operating there.
But all in all, this is a very good idea, cost wise and promoting tourism at the same time.
There was a time, actually till today I believe we can have dar city tour with buses like this. If you go to South Africa, they have such tours, where you will be given a tour of Soweto. I then thought, we could do the same thing in Dar. I am sure tourists will love to tour around the city of Dar, for example, taken to the harbor, shown old/ historical buildings that are in the middle of city center, Makumbusho kijitonyama, Makonde Carving in Mwenge, and even to small youth projects which deal with art or whatever, but this will be a good chance for the small people to be seen and benefit from tz tourism.
The Ministry of Tourism lacks creativity (no offense to anyone who thinks they are a bunch of geniuses), because they need to stop focusing only on national parks, (taking the tourist to see the wild life) we need to create other tourist attractions. And now with this road that they are planning to build, ooh good luck on tourism..lets see if it will continue to boom..but hey we have already spent few millions to advertise tz by bringing Brazil, so am guessing, we should wait for those tourists to visit Bongo after the world cup ends….
Now back to my point of dar city tour. Tourists can even be taken (driven) to the poor areas of dar, example Manzese, Mbagala etc etc. But I know the infrastructure will be a problem, coz the roads going to these places are really bad. Also those places that the tourists will be taken, the money they pay to visit those areas, for example if they visit Temeke Mikoroshini, that money they pay for that Mikoroshini tour can be used to develop that area…ni mawazo tu..
Hello,
An Aiport shuttle is operating since the 16th August 2010.
It operates every day from 4AM to Midnight.
Their City center Terminal is behind Air Tanzania office, on Pamba road, Dar Es Salaam.
The fare is only 10,000 Tshs One way.
Good Idea.
But there is some challange here cause Indian people they do that but you can’t see. You can try it