ZANZIBAR GOVERNMENT ASSURES TOURISM INDUSTRY THAT SECURITY IS TOP PRIORITY
(Posted 08th April 2014)
The annual general meeting of Zanzibar’s premier tourism association, the Zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors or ZATI in short which took place last weekend, received top level attention from the island’s government. Chief guest was the government’s Minister for Finance Hon. Omar Yusuf Mzee, cognizant of the fact that the tourism industry generates over 70 percent of the island’s foreign exchange earnings. Also present was Mr. Hamdan Omar, Commissioner of Police for the island. The finance minister in his key note address reportedly reassured the tourism investors that security of tourists remains a number one priority of the government and that all humanly possible was being done to ensure their safety during their vacation. He however acknowledged the challenges the security organs and the police were encountering when he reportedly said: ‘Attacks on visitors cause an adverse impact on the flow of tourists into the island’ making reference to several incidents last year and this year, which had prompted ZATI to seek reassurances from the government.
The police commissioner then ‘sang from the same hymn sheet’ when he reiterated what the minister had said, calling for close cooperation between the island’s tourism industry and the police to help combat petty crime and more serious incidents as reported here some time ago.
Zanzibar, comprising the main island of Unguja and the second island of Pemba, has established itself as a prime tourism destination in Eastern Africa and is now connected to key European markets by direct and nonstop charter flights, besides scheduled flights from Johannesburg.
For more information about ZATI click on www.zati.org or www.zanzibartourism.net for general information about the destination.
