Unguja. The Zanzibar Commission for Tourism (ZCT) has conducted a one-day workshop to provide tourism stakeholders with knowledge about the Greener Zanzibar Campaign, The Zanzibar Sustainable Tourism Declaration and sustainability in general.
The workshop held yesterday in Unguja saw stakeholders gathered to deliberate on ways to ensure the sustainability of the tourist industry, which accounts for 30 percent of Zanzibar’s gross domestic product (GDP).
The focal point of the workshop was the Greener Zanzibar Campaign, an initiative poised to transform the prospects of tourism by promoting sustainable practices.
The stakeholders discussed various issues that will boost sustainable tourism practices, including sustainable sourcing of food from sea and land and effective management of waste sustainably.
Other issues discussed were the preservation of natural spaces and ecosystem restoration, promotion of local Zanzibari culture, knowledge and expertise, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in operational activities.
Speaking at the workshop, ZCT’s executive secretary, Ms Hafsa Mbamba, urged investors to focus on sustainable tourism in order to align with climate change adaptation.
Furthermore Ms Mbamba said this is not first kind workshop as ZCT is focused on conducting these workshops to provide education and create awareness for tourism businesses.
ZCT’s marketing director, Rahma Sanya said the workshops will be held to other regions as of now they have conducted in Kaskazini, Kusini and Mjini Magharibi where they invite government and private institution to come together to discuss about sustainable tourism.
In a bid to improve tourism and environmental conservation, the government of Zanzibar, under his ministry, has introduced two key campaigns: The Greener Zanzibar and the Zanzibar Tourism Declaration.
The Greener campaign aims to ensure that every hotel adheres to sustainable investment principles, focusing on clean water conservation, wastewater management, and sustainable electricity use.
Suleiman Ally Mohammed one of the attendee commanded ZCT for conducting that workshop saying it had provided them with knowledge on how they can do tourism activates while protecting environment especially in waste management.
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Air Tanzania Banned From EU Airspace Due to Safety Concerns
Several airports have since locked Air Tanzania, dealing a severe blow to the Tanzanian national carrier that must now work overtime to regain its certification or go the wet lease way
The European Commission has announced the inclusion of Air Tanzania on the EU Air Safety List, effectively banning the airline from operating in European airspace.
The decision, made public on December 16, 2024, is based on safety concerns identified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which also led to the denial of Air Tanzania’s application for a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation.
The Commission did not go into the specifics of the safety infringement but industry experts suggest it is possible that the airline could have flown its Airbus A220 well past its scheduled major checks, thus violating the airworthiness directives.
“The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards for passengers in Europe and worldwide,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.
“We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift and decisive action to address these safety issues. I have offered the Commission’s assistance to the Tanzanian authorities in enhancing Air Tanzania’s safety performance and achieving full compliance with international aviation standards.”
Air Tanzania has a mixed fleet of modern aircraft types including Boeing 787s, 737 Max jets, and Airbus A220s.
It has been flying the B787 Dreamliner to European destinations like Frankfurt in Germany and Athens in Greece and was looking to add London to its growing list with the A220.
But the ban not only scuppers the London dream but also has seen immediate ripple effect, with several airports – including regional like Kigali and continental – locking out Air Tanzania.
Tanzania operates KLM alongside the national carrier.
The European Commission said Air Tanzania may be permitted to exercise traffic rights by using wet-leased aircraft of an air carrier which is not subject to an operating ban, provided that the relevant safety standards are complied with.
A wet lease is where an airline pays to use an aircraft with a crew, fuel, and insurance all provided by the leasing company at a fee.
Two more to the list
The EU Air Safety List, maintained to ensure passenger safety, is updated periodically based on recommendations from the EU Air Safety Committee.
The latest revision, which followed a meeting of aviation safety experts in Brussels from November 19 to 21, 2024, now includes 129 airlines.
Of these, 100 are certified in 15 states where aviation oversight is deemed insufficient, and 29 are individual airlines with significant safety deficiencies.
Alongside Air Tanzania, other banned carriers include Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Avior Airlines (Venezuela), and Iran Aseman Airlines (Iran).
Commenting on the broader implications of the list, Tzitzikostas stated, “Our priority remains the safety of every traveler who relies on air transport. We urge all affected airlines to take these bans seriously and work collaboratively with international bodies to resolve the identified issues.”
In a positive development, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been cleared to resume operations in the EU following a four-year suspension. The ban, which began in 2020, was lifted after substantial improvements in safety performance and oversight by PIA and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).
“Since the TCO Authorisation was suspended, PIA and PCAA have made remarkable progress in enhancing safety standards,” noted Tzitzikostas. “This demonstrates that safety issues can be resolved through determination and cooperation.”
Another Pakistani airline, Airblue Limited, has also received EASA’s TCO authorisation.
Decisions to include or exclude airlines from the EU Air Safety List are based on rigorous evaluations of international safety standards, particularly those established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
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The process involves thorough review and consultation among EU Member State aviation safety experts, with oversight from the European Commission and support from EASA.
“Where an airline currently on the list believes it complies with the required safety standards, it can request a reassessment,” explained Tzitzikostas. “Our goal is not to penalize but to ensure safety compliance globally.”
Airlines listed on the EU Air Safety List face significant challenges to their international operations, as the bans highlight shortcomings in safety oversight by their home regulatory authorities.
For Air Tanzania, this inclusion signals an urgent need for reform within Tanzania’s aviation sector to address these deficiencies and align with global standards.
The path forward will require immediate and sustained efforts to rectify safety concerns and regain access to one of the world’s most critical aviation markets.
Source: allafrica.com
