Wikimania 2013 bids/Arusha City

Wikimania 2013 candidate cities:

Final Candidate Cities: Hong Kong | ~~London~~

Other Candidate Cities: ~~Surakarta~~ | ~~Bristol~~ | ~~Naples~~

Wikimania 2013/Bids Arusha City The Bids of Wikimania conference Proposal Country: United republic of Tanzania. (The Land of Mount Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar) City proposed: Wikimania 2013 Arusha Proposed dates: 15-18 July 2013 Date of arriving: 14th – July 2013 Leaving Date: 18th – July 2013 Planned attendance: 1000 attendees Contact person: Francis Kaswahili Kaguna Mob: +255717013222/+255786555561 Email: fkaswahili@gmail.com

(The highest mountain in Africa authenticated of Tanzania)

Arusha

Our city is a great hub for trips to the many game parks scattered around this part of the Rift Valley. Temperate and not unattractive, it's a good place to stock up, hire whatever you need or book a personalised safari to suit yourself.

If you have a few days to spare though, this town has some excellent local places to visit including its own Arusha Park, which is less crowded than most other parks and with lots of interesting, though mostly smaller, game. Here you can also find Mount Meru - a really good hiking challenge away from the crowds of Killimanjaro.

There is a great market area in Arusha and it's also home to the international tribunal for Rwanda, dealing with a few remaining criminal cases.

History

Arusha is the nearest city to Olduvai gorge where some of the key finds in the history of human evolution have been made. And it is next to the rift valley considered by some theories to be the cradle of humanity.

Official documents ceding independence to Tanzania were signed by the United Kingdom at Arusha in 1961. Prior to the 1st World war Arusha was part of the German colony of German East Africa.

Arusha is located in Northern Tanzania and is surrounded by some of Tanzania's most famous landmarks and National Parks. It is situated at the base of Mt Meru and on the eastern edge of the Great Rift Valley. It has a pleasant climate and is located near the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro & Lake Manyara. Agriculture is the primary industry within this region and it has large producers of vegetables and flowers which are exported to Europe. Tourism is a major contributor to Arusha and is the second largest contributor of income within Tanzania. Arusha is a popular starting point with most tourists within Tanzania as it is in close proximity to Mt Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park & the Ngorongoro Crater. Arusha is also home to the East African Community which combines Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi & Rwanda.

Climate

Arusha is located within close proximity to the equator however due to its altitude of 1400 metres the temperature is kept cool all year round. Arusha has an average of 25°C degrees with a minimum of 13°C & a maximum of 30°C. It has distinct wet and dry seasons, the wet season runs from March to May (the long rains) and October to November (the short rains). The dry season runs from December to February & June to August.

Climate Chart For Arusha, Tanzania

Society & Culture

Arusha is a pleasant city, due to its moderate weather, location, beautiful countryside and lively music scene. Tanzanian Hip Hop locally known as Bongo Flava is popular with the youth community within Arusha. Arusha is also home to many of Tanzania's festivals including a yearly music festival sponsored by corporate companies which in the past have attracted such international artists as Shaggy & Ja Rule. Arusha also hosts the annual 'Nane Nane' Agricultural show. This is one of the many public holidays in Tanzania, held on August 8 (Nane Nane means "eight eight" in Swahili). 'Nane Nane' is marked on August 8 every year where farmers and other stakeholders exchange knowledge and business. It attracts up to a half million people every year.

Attractions

It’s not tiredness but just to show that every thing has a starting point

(The Kilimanjaro crimper on action to make more historical event on their life)

You can see how wonderful is to be at the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro Arusha is characterized by Masai warriors, in full regalia, and a busy market displaying Masai craftsmanship. You’ll also find the local clock tower here at the midpoint between Cairo and Cape Town. Arusha is the most popular destination within Tanzania for attractions. Located nearby are Mt Kilimanjaro as looks nicely there above, Serengeti National Park & the Ngorongoro Crater. These are some of the most visited attractions within Tanzania and have the most turnover of tourists. All of these attractions can be booked and organised from Arusha or from Dar es Salaam. Arusha is also known for its lively music scene, especially Tanzanian hip-hop, a blend of Maasai and Swahili influences with western music, known as Bongo Flava. You can catch a bit of this at popular local clubs like Colobus and the Blue Tripple ‘A’.

The top roof of the Mount kilimanjaro

Conference venue

The Arusha International Conference Centre is only four hours drive from Nairobi ( Kenya ) whereby daily shuttle buses ply between Arusha and Nairobi . The Centre has a total of ten (10) meeting rooms with a seating capacity from 10 in the break out rooms and 1000 delegates in the main auditorium. One of these meeting rooms has been specifically set aside for the temporary seat of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA). All major rooms are fitted with modern conference equipment such as the simultaneous interpretation system (SIS), multimedia (LCD) projectors and other audiovisuals. The average total occupancy for all the meeting rooms when in use is about 1,700 delegates. The Centre hosts an average of 100 meetings each year with a total average number of 11,000 conference delegates per year, thus contributing immensely to the socio-economic development of the Municipality and the country at large. Office space at the headquarters complex . AICC has a total of 23,000 Square Metres of office space , which is available for rent to various international and local institutions and companies. Current major tenants include, the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal For Rwanda (UN-ICTR), the East African Community (EAC) Residential housing units AICC has 654 housing units , making the Centre the biggest single landlord in Arusha. The houses are located in different parts of the Arusha Municipality and are rented out to international community personnel working and living in Arusha, private companies, government institutions and other individuals. The rents vary depending on the category of the house and location. Hospital Services

AICC runs a 32 bed modern hospital with computerized laboratory diagnostic equipment, which include among others, an ultra modern mobile X-ray machine, integrated dental chair, and ultra sound machine and physiotherapy clinic. The hospital has set aside three executive wards for VIPs. An Ambulance completely fitted with resuscitation equipment, is also available. The hospital caters for international clientele such as conference delegates, UN- staff members, tourists, businessmen as well as local clients. The hospital provides quality health services for both in-patients and outpatients. The hospital is manned by a full time committed team of doctors together with more than eight visiting consultant doctors, mainly from the referral hospital of Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Moshi town, 80 Kms from Arusha.

brief description of venue (room sizes, number of rooms etc.)

1. Main hall: 2. Seminar rooms: 3. Lounge facilities: 4. Other rooms (organisation, staff, speakers, interviews/press, storage): • contacts with conference venue (emails, price quotes etc.) • Technical facilities o Existing technical installations (on site Audio-visual...) • o Wireless Network implementation (existing? to be built? easiness of implementation?) Transportation

The Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) is 45 minutes drive from Arusha town. International airlines that operate in Tanzania are: . Air Tanzania from Johannesburg to KIA (Kilimanjaro International Airport) and Dar es Salaam . . South African Airways from Johannesburg to Dar es Salaam . KLM Royal Dutch Airlines/Northwest Airlines from Amsterdam to KIA and Dar-es salaam. . Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa to KIA and Dar es Salaam . . Kenya Airways from Nairobi to KIA and Dar es Salaam . . Precision air from Nairobi to KIA and Dar es Salaam . . Air Kenya from Nairobi to KIA . Egypt Air from Cairo to Dar es Salaam . . British Air ways from London to Dar-es salaam. . Emirates from Dubai to Dar es Salaam . . Oman Airline from Muscat to Dar es Salaam .

Entry points to Tanzania By Air: Zanzibar , Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro International Airport , By Road: Namanga & Holili from Nairobi , Horohoro from Mombasa , Msimbati from Mozambique , Tunduma from Zambia , Kigoma from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kabanga & Rusumo from Rwanda & Burundi and Mutukula & Kyaka from Uganda .

Accommodation

   Location of main accommodation facilities

   (where can the attendees be hosted. On site, off site, how far from conference venue? For attendees? For VIPs?)

   Room details and price range

   (What's the accommodation like? Dorms, B&B, Hotel? Singles, doubles? How much does it cost per person and per day?)

   Catering (one meal a day, breakfast is a plus)

   (Where do we eat, how much it costs)

   Contacts with accommodation partner(s)

   (Have you contacted the proposed locations, exchange of emails, price quotes etc.)

Party opportunities

Wikimania traditionally hosts two parties, one for attendees (capacity of 250-350) and one for sponsors and VIPs (capacity 40-60).

   Attendees party(ies) propositions

   (location, how to get there, what's cool and relaxed about it)

   Sponsor party(ies) proposition

   (location, how to get there, what's chic and high profile about it)

TRAVEL GUIDELINES

Entry Requirements The Attendees seeking to participate in the Wikimania 2013 conference in the United Republic of Tanzania should be in possession of a valid passport. The passport is to be presented to the Immigration Control Officer at any entry point: border station, airport, harbour. The passport must be presented along with one of the following: • A valid visa • A resident permit • A pass

N.B: A Attendees must also present an onward or return ticket together with proof that the visitor has sufficient funds to support himself or herself while in Tanzania. The Purpose of a Visa The visa is permission granted to a foreigner who intends to travel to Tanzania on business, for a holiday, to study or conduct research, or for other approved activities. When entering Tanzania, the visitor with a visa may then obtain from the immigration control officer, a pass or any other authority to enter the country. Those Who Require Visa All foreigners from non-Commonwealth countries are required to have a valid visa unless their countries have agreements with Tanzania under which the visa requirement is waived. Exemptions: Citizens of Commonwealth countries are not required to obtain visas unless they are citizens of the United Kingdom, Canada, Nigeria, or India. Types of Visa There are five types of visa valid for entry into Tanzania: • Ordinary Visa An ordinary visa is issued at any Tanzanian mission abroad. It enables the holder to be granted a visitor's pass at any entry point (border, airport, harbor). However, a person coming from a country where there is no Tanzanian mission or where it is reasonably distant shall be issued a visa at the entry point in Tanzania. Business Visa The business visa is issued to prospective investors who intend to visit Tanzania for such purposes as making feasibility studies, establishing professional and business contacts, and making arrangements for investments during the startup period. The validity of the visa can vary from one month to six months. The fees for the visa are determined administratively, so it is advised that prospective investors consult the appropriate authorities before making application for visas. Multiple-Entry Visa Foreigners who, because of their business or investments, need to make frequent visits to the United Republic of Tanzania are issued multiple-entry visas. Their validity ranges from one month to a year. Applications for multiple-entry visas are usually submitted by local contacts on behalf of the applicants. The fees for the visa are determined administratively; so-it is advised that prospective investors consult the appropriate authorities before making application for visas. Referred Visa The referred visa is one that requires special clearance or permission from the Director of Immigration Services in Dar es Salaam or the Principal Immigration Officer in Zanzibar. This type of visa is required for nationals of Lebanon, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Somalia and for Refugees, stateless people and other nationalities as may be specified from time to time by the authorities. People affected by this regulation may make enquiries at the nearest Tanzania mission abroad. Transit Visa A transit visa is a permission to cross Tanzania from one entry point to another and is for people whose purpose in entering Tanzania is simply to pass through without visiting. It is issued for a maximum of two weeks. The transit visa is issued only to people with onward tickets, sufficient funds for the crossing in Tanzania, and an entry visa for the country of destination (or any proof that prior arrangements have been made that satisfy this requirement). Visa-issuing Stations and Authorities Visas are issued by the following: • The office of the Director of Immigration Services, Dar es Salaam, and the office of the Principal Immigration Officer, Zanzibar. • Entry points to the United Republic of Tanzania: principally Namanga, Tunduma, Sirari, Horohoro, Kigoma port, Dar es Salaam International Airport, Kilimanjaro International Airport, Zanzibar Harbour and Zanzibar Airport.

Visitor's Pass The visitor's pass is issued to a prospective visitor to the United Republic of Tanzania who satisfies the authorized officer that he or she wishes to enter Tanzania for any of the following purposes: • Spending a holiday • Traveling • Answering a subpoena or summons to attend court • Obtaining medical treatment by a registered medical practitioner • Any other reason deemed sufficient Wikimania Registrants All registrants are required to confirm before planning a trip to Tanzania after confirmation the organizing team will be working together with daily communication with the Principal Emigration Commissioner regarding the Wikimania Conference participants to avoid inconvenience Re-Entry Passes A foreigner residing in Tanzania who intends to return to Tanzania within the period of two years should obtain a re-entry pass before departing Tanzania.

Accessibility

   (Wikimania usually does not offer dinner. What are the surroundings of the location like? Lots of restaurants and places to hang out? What is the local transportation like?)

   Visa issues

   (who needs a visa, how easy is it to obtain it)

Tourism opportunities

(when people travel from far away, they like to come for more than just the conference. What are the tourism opportunities around the location?)

Biology. Arusha is close to some of the worlds largest remaining herds of wildlife including the migration route of more than a million Wildebeeste. Wikimanians will find Arusha an excellent starting point for safaris.
Archaeology. Olduvai gorge is the cradle of mankind.
Mountaineering. Fitter delegates can climb to the snowcap.
Local culture. Masai communities are very close to Arusha

Local sponsorship opportunities

Possibility of local sponsorships

   Contacts

   (no name needed, just "company X, 4000 USD or will provide 300 beds)

[edit] Local team

(Who stands behind this bid, who will be able to help locally, names and what they can help with) [edit] Miscellaneous

Anything you feel should be brought to the attention of the jury. [edit] Self-evaluation

   Weaknesses of the proposed location ...and how to overcome those weaknesses

   Weakness 1

       Solution 1

   Weakness 2

       Solution 2

Strengths of the proposed location

Tanzania is in the global south, this would be he first Wikimania in subsaharan Africa and that in itself would be a big statement about the movement's intention to be more global.
Visa's are available from almost anywhere. We anticipate that people from almost every country will be able to get a visa to visit Tanzania.
Tanzania is a very poor country and most wikimania attendees will find that everything is very good value while they are here.
The climate in Arusha is excellent, especially during the dry season when Wikimania takes place.