Zanzibar marked fifty years of self-rule with tourism on its economic agenda. Targeting tourism as the island’s major economic venture in forthcoming years, Zanzibar government has embarked a marshal plan aimed at pulling more tourists to this Indian Ocean tourist paradise. The semi-autonomous archipelago celebrated its half-a century self-governance on Sunday, bringing its priorities to boost tourism and transport areas so as to attract more visitors to its warm beaches.
Zanzibar government has last month endorsed a marketing drive.
Targeting to raise the islands tourism profile, making the island to compete with other Indian Ocean islands.
The “Destination Zanzibar” drive is being implemented by Grassroots Traveler, a company based at the Island’s famous historical site of Stone Town.
When successful, then, Zanzibar will be positioned to compete with Seychelles, Maldives, Mauritius and La Reunion, the leading tourist islands in the Indian Ocean Rim.
Zanzibar’s tourism promotional drive had so far been launched to focus the Gulf States through Dubai in the United Arab Emirates which stands a focal point focal point for travelers to East Africa and the Indian Ocean Rim.
Dubai is Zanzibar’s air connection hub where most tourists visiting this Island connect their flights through the Emirates Airline, the leading air carrier for tourists and business travelers to both Tanzania and Zanzibar via Tanzania’s capital city of Dar es Salaam.
Looking to attract more tourists to its famous pristine beaches and exotic ambiance, “Destination Zanzibar” also aims to showcase the island as an environmentally sustainable destination with a variety of cultural events and experiences that will heighten the travel experience.
"Destination Zanzibar" aims to position the island as a best destination with more than sun, sea and sand and highlight the one of kind experiences visitors can expect.
Tourism is Zanzibar's leading source of revenue, earning 72 percent of the islands' foreign currency and 27 percent of its annual Gross Domestic Product.
Zanzibar president Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein said his government is now changing the Island’s tourism face, to make it more attractive to high class holiday makers from all corners of the world.
In order to make tourism more viable and sustainable, various committees have been formed to foresee and monitor tourism supporting activities that would help to speed up its growth.
The island is looking to be the best tourist destination in the Indian Ocean region should ongoing plans to boost attractions in the isles succeed.
Moving a motion for legislators to deliberate and approve a US$10 million budget for the Ministry of Tourism mid-last year, minister Said Ali Mbarouk informed said that "all is going on well" to achieve the objective.
He said strategies to make Zanzibar the leading tourism destination included improving services and the working environment for staff in the tourism commission, and advertising abroad.
"We have been improving the advertising section, evaluating and monitoring service delivery to guests, learning from others by taking part in international exhibitions, capacity building for local people engaged in the sector," Mbarouk said.
"The immediate plan is to visit the Seychelles to share experience how they are doing in advertising the island and improving tourism attraction areas. It is important, because tourism is our priority," Mbarouk said.
Tourism growth in the island has been attributed by the increase of the number of tourist class hotels springing up in the island’s beaches of Nungwi, Stone Town and recently, the under-water hotel in Pemba, a twin island.
These high-class hotels and beach resorts have attracted prominent personalities including Bill Gates and His Highness the Aga Khan.
A total of 354 hotels and tourist guest houses, all with 7,421 room accommodating 14,076 beds have been established in the island since 1990 when tourism development took off in the island.
It is estimated that some 13,017 employees are currently working in the Island’s tourist sector, while 45,000 others are employed in other sectors directly connected to tourism. The aim of the Zanzibar government is to ensure that 50 percent of the island’s employees fall under the tourism sector come the year 2020, officials said.
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