Assessing The Effectiveness Of Tanzania's Policy In Promoting Zanzibar Tourism Industry

Zanzibar is semi-autonomous to Tanzania.It consists of two main Island Unguja and Pemba.Unguja is bigger than Pemba and it is an administrative and a Trade Center.Zanzibar has around 50 other small islands without habitant.The island of Zanzibar located in the Indian Ocean about 30 km of the East C oast of Africa and found in the Eastern part Tanzania.Tanganyika and Zanzibar united in 1964 and together formed the Republican of Tanzania.Since it forms part of United Republic of Tanzania,Zanzibar also is a member of East Africa Community.Zanzibar diversifies its economic from clove agricultural to tourism sector in mid of 1980's year after the drop of clove in the world market.Early 1990's Zanzibar declared tourism sector as a source of its economic growth and in 1992 modern tourism started.The island of Zanzibar tourism attractions include the Stone Town,a UNECCO heritage area,with wealth of historical building,mix of different tribes such as Arab,Indian and Swahili.Also there are many natural attractions such as Ngezi natural forest in Pemba and Jozani in Unguja.The small island like Chumbe,Mnemba and Changuu are rich in marine environment characterized with coral reef.Other attractions are Zanzibar wood curing such as chest,picture frame.Zanzibar also offer spice tour and eco-tourism.Other attractions are slave chambers,ruins,palace,bath.Tourism is among economic driver in many countries in the world and foreign currency generating source.The tourism industry is growing rapidly in Africa and other developing countries around the world.Like many other African countries,island of Zanzibar is one among the countries that depends on tourism for her foreign currency generation.This study gives details on how the Tanzania's Policies promote the Zanzibar Tourism Industry.Without forgetting role played by Tanzania Tourism Board of Tanzania and Zanzibar Commission for Tourism of Zanzibar.In 1989 the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar decide to open an investment to all sector of economy,in doing so,in 1991 prepared a master plan,that followed by the establishment of Zanzibar Investment Promotion Agency(ZIPA)in 1992 to cater investment activities in Zanzibar and actual ZIPA stimulated the investment tourism industry in Zanzibar by providing a conducive investment environments.Zanzibar Investment Promotion Agency as now known as Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority is one stop center for investment services in Zanzibar,it provides general investment information as well offering services such as acquisitions of land and project approval,building permit and all other services related to investment.Before ZIPA to be established there was only one establishment of visitor Hotel but immediately after its establishment in 1992 Zanzibar witnesses a rapid growth in tourism industry as up to 2009 Zanzibar has almost 194 hotel and now about 424 hotels that indicates the successes of ZIPA and what's important,among all investment tourism industry seems to dominate over all other such as trade and agriculture.The study also explains about the Tanzania National Tourism Policy,the policy on which its objectives includes marketing and promoting the tourism industry in Tanzania.Tanzania Tourism Board(TTB)is the board in Tanzania mandated with the implementation of the policy by marketing and promoting of Tourism Industry in Tanzania.In marketing and promoting the Tourism Industry of island of Zanzibar enough detail has provided in the Tanzania Tourism Board website by putting some of the tourism attraction of the island.The Goodwill ambassador appointed by the TTB also market and promote the Zanzibar tourism attraction.Tanzania is a member of United State Tour Operator launched in 2012 and organized by the TTB for purpose of attracting more American tourist in Tanzania.Diplomatic are representative from one country to another country,attained through bilateral agreement based on agreed terms.In analyzing the effectiveness of Tanzania foreign policy of 2015 that emphasis on the promotion of tourism industry,Tanzanians Diplomatic market and promote the Zanzibar Tourism Industry as provide a well described tourism attractions of Zanzibar in their website.Moreover,the study entails on how the Zanzibar Tourism Policy promote the Zanzibar Tourism Industry by mentioning the general and specific objects.Whereas the general objective of the policy is to promote,manage,plan and develop tourism industry that emphasize on the social,cultural,ecologically,economically and environmental sustainability.The study points out various activities done by the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism(ZCT)mandated agent that market and promote tourism in Zanzibar.The marketing and promotion activities by the Commission includes providing the islands tourism attraction in the Commissions' website,attending International Tourism Trade Fair and Exhibition in various countries in the world,providing education to Tourism Training College and prepare press conference with international media and international media report.The study also shows role played by Tanzania and Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar in promoting the industries and initiatives taken.Enough details on the factor affecting the tourism industries in Zanzibar and challenges,also the importance of the industry in social and economic development.The study shows that despite of rapid growing of tourism industry in Zanzibar by increasing the number of international tourism arrival,still more promotion and marketing needed particularly in international as well in the digital level,that can provide enough detail of its uniqueness attraction so as to win its own destination rather it is of now as most of the tourist arrive via Safar Kenya or Tanzania the things make no increase on the average length of day of staying when arrive in Zanzibar and their spending too.Also should promote other investment like trade,develop Zanzibar product to qualify international standard,that can attracts more tourist rather it is now the industry depend mostly in natural and historical attractions.