BY SUKHDEV CHHATBAR
A total of 550 exhibitors have confirmed participation in this year’s Karibu-Kilifair which will be held in Arusha from June 4 to 7, 2026, at Magereza Grounds.
The Expo’s coordinators, Mr Dominic Shoo and Mr Tom Kunkler, said the confirmed exhibitors include participants from 13 different countries, while the majority are local tourism stakeholders.
“More than 50% of the participants are Tanzanians,” Mr Shoo said.
He said the exhibitors include tour operators, hotels, lodges, tourism service providers, suppliers, travel-related companies, arts and crafts dealers, food vendors and other businesses connected to the tourism and hospitality value chain.
The annual Expo is expected to bring together tourism stakeholders, buyers, exhibitors and members of the public, providing a platform for business networking, marketing and promotion of Tanzania’s tourism products.
Karibu-Kilifair is regarded as one of East Africa’s major tourism trade exhibitions. According to the organisers, the 2026 edition is expected to attract more than 550 exhibitors, over 1,000 international travel agents and buyers and thousands of trade visitors for three days.
The organisers say the event also features business-to-business networking, panel discussions, familiarisation trips and opportunities for exhibitors to connect with buyers from different countries.
The Expo will be held at Magereza Grounds in Arusha, near Arusha Airport, with June 4 set aside for exhibitors and business networking, while June 5 to 7 will be open to travel agents and the public.
Over the years, the Expo has become an important platform for Arusha, a city regarded as the gateway to Tanzania’s northern tourism circuit, including Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Mount Kilimanjaro.
Its return is expected to boost visibility for local tourism operators and strengthen business links between Tanzanian exhibitors and international buyers.
The Expo grounds will be open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with entry fixed at Sh 20,000 for adults and Tsh 5,000 for children while families can benefit from discounted tickets designed to make attendance more accessible.
