ZATI are continuously progressing issues concerning the airport, roads, ban on importing poultry and meat, electricity and taxes with the relevant Ministries and government institutions. We are proud of our partnership working and are always seeking organisations to work with on projects and initiatives that will help build a successful tourism industry and support the development of Zanzibar.

Partnership Working
This year ZATI has attended and supported seminars and events organised by the following organisations:

• Millennium Challenge Account
• Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs
• Ministry of Information, Culture and Sports
• Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Investment
• Rotary Club of Zanzibar Stone Town
• Stone Town Conservation and Development Authority
• Stone Town Heritage Society
• Tanzania Revenue Authority
• ZANEMA (Zanzibar Employers Organisation)
• Zanzibar Aids Commission
• Zanzibar Business Council
• Zanzibar National Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture
 

ZATI Projects

International Youth Foundation
ZATI are working alongside the International Youth Foundation (IYF), a non-profit organisation, based in the US, to develop a programme to prepare young people for the tourism job market in Zanzibar. The programme will include hospitality sector training, IT training, and ‘life skills’ to increase young people’s employability.

Tourism is fast replacing agriculture as the main driver of the economy, which clearly has implications for future employment prospects in Zanzibar. Discussions with both government officials, and hotel owners and managers have indicated that local Zanzibaris are not benefiting from the tourism industry as much as they might. Hotels find themselves frequently hiring non-local staff because of a lack of qualified local applicants.

The project aims to design a training programme for young people focused specifically on the needs of the tourism industry in Zanzibar, which simultaneously will help to improve young people’s prospects for future employment. It is hoped that ZATI members will be able to provide internship slots and employment opportunities for trained young people. For those not placed in jobs entrepreneurship training will be provided.


International Finance Corporation
In collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), ZATI are developing an industry growth strategic plan and a local Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) supply chain.

The IFC are part of the World Bank and promote sustainable private sector investment in developing countries. IFC has established the Private Enterprise Partnership for Africa (PEP-Africa) to deliver technical assistance to the private sector, with special attention to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Zanzibar is one of the areas they are focusing on.

The project has three components:

1) Investment (hotel and infrastructure) opportunities assessment
This will include bench-marking the Zanzibar tourism industry’s competitiveness against peers and establishing whether there are any untapped opportunities which could be developed.

2) Industry growth strategic plan
Objectives include:
• developing a public-private partnership strategy to facilitate investment in priority infrastructure, services, staff etc;
• advising ZATI on developing an effective advocacy and community relationship agenda.

3) SMEs supply chain development
This part of the project hopes to identify products that ZATI members can source from local SMEs and design a supply chain development strategy.


Nungwi Police Post
Members of ZATI and other hotels in Nungwi and Kendwa are supporting a project to build a Police Post in the Nungwi area through contributing materials for its construction. The project is being led by Deputy Chairman Paolo Chiaro, who is also the Director of Renco Zanzibar Ltd. Renco are overseeing the development of the Police Post, as well as contributing materials and resources to manage the project.

The committee also includes Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel, Sallehe's (Sazani Beach), Baobab Beach Bungalows, Kendwa Amaan Beach Resort, Mnarani Beach Cottage, Kendwa Rocks, Flame Tree Cottages, La Rosa Dei Venti, Smiles Beach Hotel and La Gemma Dell’est.

A similar project was carried out by ZATI members in Kiwengwa, which has helped to reduce crime in the area and increase the sense of security for tourists and residents alike.


Public vs. private sector football match
In conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Zanzibar Stone Town, a football game is being planned for July between the private and public sectors. The aims of the event include strengthening the relationship between the two sectors, recognising the importance of the public-private partnership, and looking into possibilities of promoting tourism through sports. The President of Zanzibar is schedule to be the Guest of Honour. Afterwards, a cocktail party will give players and spectators a chance to socialise and network.


World Hotel Link – using sustainability and e-commerce to access the independent travel market
ZATI are assisting the development of the World Hotel Link system in Zanzibar, an online booking site aimed at the independent travel market. The project is being implemented by the Private Sector Competitiveness Project, in partnership with the Tanzania Confederation of Tourism and Tanzanian Tourism Board. In Zanzibar, the Commission for Tourism and the Ministry for Tourism, Trade and Investment are also involved.

All accommodation providers and tour operators will be offered the opportunity to participate in the portal. Included within the system will also be a ranking of how ‘sustainable’ each investor is, giving tourists extra information about their destination. Sustainable tourism contributes to the preservation and the harmonious development of a tourism destination through taking into account the long-term interests of current and future generations of people, the preservation of the environment and cultural heritage, and the equitable distribution of resources generated by tourism.