Zanzibar moves to address challenges in tourism

Dar es Salaam. 

The government of Zanzibar has outlined measures it is taking to address power and water supply problems in North Region, which is the mainstay of tourism on the isles.

This follows concerns raised by members of the Zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors (Zati) and other tourism stakeholders during their meeting with Zanzibar Tourism and Heritage minister Simai Mohammed Said.

The meeting was in response to directives issued by President Hussein Ali Mwinyi during a recent Zanzibar National Business Council (ZNBC) meeting.

President Mwinyi directed the Tourism ministry to meet with stakeholders, listen to their concerns and work on them.

Stakeholders also spoke about noise pollution and loud music from nightclubs and bars, supply of quality food and beverages and management of solid waste in the region.

Mr Mohammed told The Citizen that North Region has witnessed “huge” investment in hotel and residential buildings in recent years.

He said, however, that the area has inadequate power infrastructure that was set up when the population was much smaller.

“It seems transformers installed in the area are now overwhelmed. However, the government will conduct a study to establish the magnitude of the problem and take appropriate action,” he said by phone.

He added that a feasibility study is currently being conducted in readiness for the implementation of a major power project.

Mr Mohammed said stakeholders had also requested for a reduction in import charges levied on solar power equipment.

“The request will be discussed by the government because once hotel investors increase the use of solar, Zanzibar will be recognised among islands utilising environmentally friendly energy in the world.

“In the past, solar equipment was expensive, but we hope a significant reduction in costs will convince investors to embark on providing their hotels with additional solar infrastructure,” he said.

Mr Mohammed added that the problem of power infrastructure dilapidation is also affecting the supply and distribution of water in the region as noted by stakeholders.

“We are considering identifying an area for hotels and other tourism facilities and another one for residential buildings. This will enable the government to provide water infrastructure according to existing demand,” he said.

According to him, noise pollution was caused by non-compliance to existing laws by nightclub and bar operators.

“We will launch a crackdown on habitual noise polluters after the Holy Month of Ramadan and hold them accountable,” Mr Mohammed said.

Commenting on the sector’s general performance, Mr Mohammed said tourism has recovered sooner than expected.

The number of tourist arrivals from France has been increasing steadily, but the lack of direct flights between Zanzibar and the European nation is still a major challenge.

According to him, the ministry would step up its promoting of Zanzibar as a tourist destination in April, May and June, targeting potential visitors from the Middle East.

“These are expected to counterbalance a decline in tourists from Mainland Tanzania, which is expected to receive long rains during that period,” he said.

However, a document released on March 22, this year in collaboration between the Chief Government Statistician, the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism and the Immigration department shows that Zanzibar received 65,430 foreign visitors in February, this year.

These are less visitors to be recorded in February with a decrease of 4.9 percent compared with 68,813 visitors recorded in January 2023.

Data shows that 60,065 visitor’s equivalent to 91.8 percent of all visitors entered through the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, 54,572 and 5,493 on international and domestic flights respectively.

Furthermore, the report adds that the remaining 5,365 visitors entered through seaport out of which 963 came by cruise ship and sea ferries from outside Tanzania and 4,402 by Sea Ferries from Dar es Salaam.