Unguja. Zanzibar has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) bringing together key players in tourism and investment under one coordinated vision in a significant step toward strengthening its economic prospects.
The agreement, sealed in the presence of Minister of Tourism and Heritage, Mudrick Soraga, marks a turning point in how Zanzibar positions itself on the global stage.
The MoU binds the Zanzibar Tourism and Investment Show (ZTIS) with major industry associations including the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism (ZCT), the Zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors (ZATI), the Hotel Association of Zanzibar (HAZ), the Zanzibar Association of Tour Operators (ZATO), the Zanzibar Tour Guides Association (ZATOGA), the Zanzibar National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC), the Real Estate Development Association (REDA), among others from both Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania.
Speaking during the ceremony, Minister Soraga hailed the moment as “a significant step forward for the betterment and promotion of Zanzibar.”
He emphasised that, for the first time, all major institutions had come together with a shared commitment to advancing the archipelago’s development agenda.
“We have now created a united front that reflects the unwavering support of all institutions toward the Government of Zanzibar,” he noted.
This unified approach is set to bring a new level of visibility and investor confidence, particularly in the lead-up to the Zanzibar Tourism and Investment Show scheduled for June 20–21, 2025, at the Zanzibar Exhibition Centre in Dimani. Organisers aim to grow ZTIS into the largest tourism and investment exhibition in Africa, positioning it as a hub for showcasing opportunities in real estate, hospitality, infrastructure, and eco-tourism.
The signed agreement represents more than just an administrative milestone—it reflects a maturing of Zanzibar’s tourism ecosystem, where collaboration and shared objectives are becoming the norm.
Tourism continues to be a mainstay of Zanzibar’s economy, contributing over 30 percent to GDP and supporting thousands of jobs. The destination attracted over 736,000 international visitors in 2024—a number expected to rise this year.
At the same time, interest in real estate and investment properties, particularly holiday homes and eco-lodges, has grown substantially.
Stakeholders say that by converging tourism and real estate interests under one roof, the upcoming ZTIS is expected to create opportunities for strategic partnerships and new ventures.
It will also offer a platform for investors to engage directly with government bodies, tour operators, developers, and entrepreneurs seeking capital for sustainable projects.
As anticipation builds for the June expo, Zanzibar’s message is clear: the island is open for business—united, ambitious, and ready to shape its economic future on its own terms.
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European Union Bans Air Tanzania Over Safety Concerns
Kampala — The European Commission added Air Tanzania to the EU Air Safety List, banning the airline from operating within European Union airspace. This decision follows the denial of Air Tanzania’s Third Country Operator (TCO) authorization by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), citing significant safety deficiencies.
The EU Air Safety List includes airlines that fail to meet international safety standards. Commissioner Tzitzikostas emphasized the importance of passenger safety, stating: “The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards. We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift action to address these safety issues. The Commission has offered its assistance to Tanzanian authorities to enhance safety performance and achieve compliance with international aviation standards.”
Air Tanzania joins several African airlines banned from EU airspace, including carriers from Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Kenya. Notable names include Congo Airways, Sudan Airways, and Kenyan carriers Silverstone Air Services and Skyward Express. The ban reflects the EU’s strict approach to aviation safety worldwide.
Source: allafrica.com
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
CCM ready to task state organs on Zanzibar Airport deal
Ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi-Zanzibar has said it is ready to task state organs to investigate some of the claims against its government that have been raised by opposition politicians on the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA).Continue Reading
