Zanzibar named prime journey vacation spot in Africa

Zanzibar has been named as a prime journey vacation spot for 2023 by Vacationers Worldwide Journal placing the Island on prime of 15 greatest journey locations in Africa.

In response to the journal Zanzibar’s distinctive historical past which includes a mix of Arab, Swahili, Indian, and Portuguese influences positions the Island as a should go to within the New 12 months.

“Take a stroll round Stone City, the place you may see historic buildings or get misplaced in historic pathways. You may as well spend some nights on the opposite aspect of the island at locations like Paje Seashore, which has many resorts and eating places. There are at all times seaside events and occasions happening as nicely,” writes the journal.

The announcement comes at a time when the tourism sector globally is recovering from the shockwaves o the Covid-19 pandemic with current numbers exhibiting that arrivals in Zanzibar have been set to hit pre-Covid days.

Analysts say that this might see the variety of arrivals enhance additional however questioned whether or not the Archipelago was able to deal with the inflow.

Chatting with The Citizen on the most recent growth the Everlasting Secretary to the Ministry of tourism and antiquities Ms Fatma Khamis mentioned one of many key points that has saved Zanzibar afloat is that the Island by no means went into lockdown in comparison with different markets.

“Along with the infrastructure developments, the promotions, we’ve got positioned ourselves as an all yr spherical vacation spot. Already as you could have witnessed even what was off-shoulder seasons now entice many guests,” she mentioned.

In response to her there was an  enhance of 3000 beds which may serve as much as 6000 guests given the variety of motels which have opened up to now two years.

She mentioned extra is but to be achieved in that space as a result of out of the 215 funding tasks which were registered on the Zanzibar Funding Promotion Authority (Zipa) 100 are within the hospitality business.

“The opening of the Terminal 3 constructing can even assist to scale back congestion on the airport, however we’ve got began coaching service suppliers on tips on how to successfully ship vacationer providers,” she mentioned.

She added: Quickly we will embark on a course of to improve motels to suit the East Africa standardization.

The ministry within the first quarter of 2023 plans to launch a digital programme that may allow them to seize the precise statistics of the variety of guests getting into Zanzibar in actual time.

On his half, the Zanzibar Tourism Traders (Zati) chairman Rahim Bhaloo the popularity that Tanzania and Zanzibar is getting is because of the purposeful and strategic effort being put in by stakeholders resembling Ministry of Tourism of each side / TTB / ZCT to market Zanzibar as a vacation spot into new strategic markets with spending energy capability.

“This has in the long term enhanced our place inside East Africa and Africa as entire,” mentioned Mr Bhaloo who can be the chairman of the Zanzibar Fee for Tourism.

He mentioned that with a lot dedication by the federal government to enhance the infrastructure resembling roads / electrical energy/ water provide / airports/ seaports / including worth to our different commodities, Zanzibar’s place as a precedence vacation spot will strengthen additional.

And similar to the PS, he too, admits there may be work to do as a way to open up additional as a rustic by enhancing accessibility to guests and enhancing on visa course of and extra worldwide scheduled flights arrival as a substitute of constitution flight to make Tanzania and Zanzibar as an all yr spherical vacationer vacation spot.

“The buyers have proven their belief and confidence in authorities insurance policies and method their very own service suppliers to boost their amenities and providers to fulfill the required worldwide requirements with affordability,” he added.