Photo taken on February 9, 2022 shows an entrance to the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. (Photo by Cao Jingmin/Xinhua)
Mobile games have been chosen as an effective way to promote the large number of tourist attractions in Tanzania as the internet becomes ubiquitous.
DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) — App developers play an important role in promoting Tanzania’s tourist attractions.
Elias Patrick, 28, an app developer, led the development of three mobile games aimed at promoting local tourism in the country by helping tourists find the right information about tourist attractions and their locations.
Patrick told Xinhua in a recent interview at his modest residence on the Kigamboni Peninsula in Dar es Salaam, the commercial capital of Tanzania, that he named the three mobile games — the Kilimanjaro Block Puzzle, the Serengeti Block Puzzle , the Tanzanite Crush — based on the country’s main tourist attractions – Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, the endless plains of the Serengeti, as well as a rare blue gem mined only in northern Tanzania, respectively .
Patrick, who employed a team of six technicians working on a temporary basis, said he spent two months developing the mobile games before releasing them in July 2022. These games are also intended to eliminate misleading information about attractions tourism in Tanzania, he said. .
Patrick developed websites and applications before focusing on creating mobile games. He said his hobby is visiting different tourist destinations in Tanzania.
“I developed my ideas (of creating mobile games) when I visited Serengeti National Park and Kilimanjaro mountain,” he said, saying 80% of internet users are on games during the free hours.
Elephants roam in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park on Feb. 10, 2022. (Photo by Cao Jingmin/Xinhua)
When asked how he has supported the development of mobile games, Patrick said he earns revenue through customer-tailored advertisements with various companies including Google and Tanzania’s CRDB Bank Incorporation.
Patrick said his mobile games have received reviews from around the world, with most people expressing their enthusiasm.
“Most people who have reviewed my mobile games were delighted to learn that the games were created by a Tanzanian who is using his IT expertise to develop something useful for his country,” he said.
“I am developing a fourth mobile game to promote local tourism in Zanzibar Tanzania which will be released next month,” said Patrick, who is also the Managing Director (CEO) of Swahili Online, and CEO and Founder of the branding company. Elly’s which aims to produce technology products specifically in e-learning, tourism and agriculture.■
