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Dar es Salaam. The Zanzibar Airports Authority (ZAA) has categorically denied claims circulating on social media that KLM and Air France will temporarily suspend their Zanzibar routes due to a $44 tourist travel insurance fee.
In a statement released on Thursday, December 19, 2024, the ZAA clarified that the suspensions are routine seasonal adjustments and not related to any new fees.
“This information is incorrect,” said ZAA Director General, Mr Seif Abdalla Juma. “Both airlines have clarified that the temporary suspensions are routine adjustments based on seasonal demand and are unrelated to any travel insurance requirements.”
Air France will temporarily suspend its Paris-Zanzibar route between 22nd March and 25th May 2025 due to the “green season,” a traditionally quieter period for tourism.
KLM, on the other hand, will pause its Zanzibar service from Amsterdam during the IATA summer season (March to October 2025) and resume operations in the winter season.
Mr Juma urged the public to be cautious about unverified information. “We call upon the public to disregard such misinformation from unreliable sources and instead refer to official airline communications or reputable news outlets for accurate updates on flight operations,” he emphasised.
The clarification comes in the wake of concerns raised by tourism stakeholders after Air France and KLM announced the suspensions. As previously reported, French tourists have become a key market for Zanzibar’s tourism industry, contributing significantly to visitor numbers.
Stakeholders worry that the suspension of direct flights may impact Zanzibar’s appeal, given the convenience and comfort of direct routes.
A tourism professional, Frédérique Duvignacq, noted earlier that “such changes could prompt travellers to consider alternative destinations such as Kenya or South Africa.”
Despite these challenges, the ZAA reassured stakeholders of its commitment to supporting Zanzibar’s tourism sector. The authority also highlighted the importance of addressing misinformation to prevent unnecessary panic.
Both airlines have assured the public that operations will resume as scheduled, with Air France returning in May 2025 and KLM resuming in October 2025. Travellers are encouraged to plan their journeys accordingly.
For accurate updates, the ZAA advises travellers to consult official airline channels or credible sources. “Let us ensure that only factual information is shared to maintain confidence in Zanzibar’s tourism and travel industry,” Mr Juma concludedContinue Reading
The suspension has sparked concerns among local tourism professionals, who believe that the absence of a direct flight could negatively affect Zanzibar’s appeal.Continue Reading
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Pemba. In an effort to enhance Zanzibar’s horticultural industry, the Tanzania Horticultural Association (Taha) has extended a project targeted at reducing post-harvest losses.
The initiative, dubbed “Feed the Future Tanzania, Tuhifadhi Chakula” (Let’s Save Food) project, under financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), intends to reduce post-harvest loss.
Designed to bridge gaps across various value chains, the project targets more than 10,000 horticultural stakeholders in Zanzibar over the next four years.
This endeavour seeks to alleviate the challenges that have long plagued the sub-sector, notably the crippling losses experienced after harvest due to inadequate management technologies.
Official statistics reveal that Tanzanian horticultural farmers face staggering post-harvest losses of up to 40 percent. This translates into an economic loss of approximately $1.7 billion annually, as recorded between 2012 and 2016.
A field day event held in Pemba served as a vital platform for this mission; hundreds of farmers gathered to gain insights and firsthand experience with the latest post-harvest management technologies (PHMT).
The event highlighted practical training sessions led by various actors and industry experts, focusing on essential aspects such as food handling, storage, and value addition processes for both farmers and processors. The deputy chief of party for the Feed the Future Tanzania, Tuhifadhi Chakula project, Mr. Kelvin Remen, emphasised the importance of these sessions during his address.
He underscored that in October 2024, Taha organised a series of stakeholder interactions to identify critical needs and challenges.
“These interactions revealed significant gaps in the availability, accessibility, and affordability of PHMT options,” said Mr Remen.
Among the pressing issues were the lack of capital and knowledge regarding harvest technologies, storage techniques, processing methods, and packaging materials, he explained. In response to the findings, Taha organised the Pemba farmers’ field day held yesterday to serve as a collaborative platform.
“By bringing together key players in the PHMT field, the event aimed to showcase innovative solutions that can tackle post-harvest inefficiencies,” noted Mr Remen.
This initiative not only provides hope for improved practices but also sets a foundation for sustainable growth and resilience within Zanzibar’s horticultural community.
“With this forward-thinking approach, the project promises to deliver transformative impacts on the ground, ensuring that Zanzibar’s horticultural farmers truly have a reason to smile,” he said.
Officiating at the farmers’ field day, Officer in charge of the ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources, and Livestock Indris Abdullah said the day focused on best practices for harvesting, handling, and preservation, along with adding value to crops after harvest.
“I’m grateful that farmers also will exchange experiences and knowledge and discuss challenges they face in ensuring crop loss is minimized. It’s part of training through exposure visits, and more importantly, it aims to create a strong network of horticulture farmers in Pemba,” Mr Abdullah said.
He praised Taha for providing services in a professional manner and productive agricultural guidance, post-harvest crop management and preservation, food security, market research, and linking farmers to markets; nutrition: connecting value chain stakeholders with financial institutions; and advocacy and lobbying services to create an enabling environment for conducting horticulture business.Continue Reading
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