ZANZIBAR, IT’S EXOTICNESS AND RICH CULTURE MAKES IT A TOP ISLAND DESTINATION.
Zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors (ZATI)
held its annual dinner party at the Zanzibar
Serena Inn which was highly attended by the
members of ZATI, business community, government
officials and diplomats from Dar-es-Salaam.
The Guest of honour for the evening was the Minister of
Tourism, Trade and Investments, Hon Samia Suluhu Hassan.
The Minister insisted that Zanzibar still needs to put
on extra efforts in order to bring the quality tourism
on the isles, more tourists are visiting Zanzibar and
the number has increase to 250,000 to last year either
visiting for business or holiday.
Further to this, the Minister insisted “To secure its
continuity as an island destination, Zanzibar needs to
act more on the PPP (Public Private Partnership) looking
on methods on improving the infrastructure.
The Chairman of ZATI, Mr. Simai Mohammed Said, commended
the government on its efforts of improving the roads of
Zanzibar, this has been the biggest achievement for the
Zanzibar’s government.
However, the Chairman insisted on more attention that
needs to be focused on the airport, as it the place
where people arrive and depart.
The Chairman of ZATI also made a special request to the
Minister; Stone Town which serves as the main attraction
of the tourism in Zanzibar is loosing its charm. Very
little attention is paid into it; the street lights at
night are not sufficient or not working at all. He
pledged to the government to bring back its old history.
According to the Zanzibar Stone Town Heritage Society,
Zanzibar was the second place after New York to have
street lights.
Last year, the Sub committee of ZATI led by M/s Eleanor
Griplas ( Ondoa Taka taka and Clean up Stone Town) got
together 900 students from 10 different schools to
collect unnecessary litter and rubbish, more then 2500
bags were collected out of stone town.
In addition to this, ZATI awarded recognized three
companies who have made a difference to the tourism
growth of Zanzibar ; Safari Blue, ZANAIR and Mazsons
Hotel.
The award for the new excursion of Zanzibar was
presented to M/s Eleanor Griplas for the Safari Blue, a
whole day trip on the south west islands of Zanzibar.
The award was presented by the Minister Suluhu for her
outstanding achievement of her long vision of adding a
new excursion to the tourism industry.
The Managing Director of ZANAIR, Mr. Carl Salsbury was
presented the trophy for his achievement of improving
the Isles air transport. ZANAIR has recently added
FOKKER 28 in its fleet which makes it the number 1 air
charter company in Tanzania.
Mr Nassor Mazrui, the Managing Director of Mazson’s
Hotel was presented the trophy by the Mayor of Zanzibar
for his long efforts of improving the industry. Mr
Mazrui owned the 1st air charter of Zanzibar, he went on
to open the 1st health clinic to cater for tourists, and
he then later became the President of the Zanzibar
National Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Trade. He
currently owns a boutique hotel in the heart of Stone
Town.
The evening ended up with a raffle, lucky draw and an
auction. App $5000 dollars was raised for ZATI’s
projects.
Mr James Lugembe of Travel Mate Dar-es-Saalam, surprised
the chief guest when he donated $1000 for street lights
of Stone Town, he was supported by Mr Jafferji of
Zanzibar Gallery who later donated $500 for the same
course.
ZATI, main objective is to unite investors in the
tourism Industry and cooperate with the government in
the formulation of strategies in promotion of tourism,
thus acting as a link between the members and the
government on matter of socio-economic policies.
Simai Mohammed Said
Chairman
ZANZIBAR ASSOCIATION OF TOURISM INVESTORS
www.zati.org
2007
