Unguja — INVESTORS in the hospitality
industry here perceive the isles tourism industry as promising, with the
number of tourists on the increase on annual basis. Hoteliers along Zanzibar beaches have told a team of journalists
visiting various development projects registered in the past 50 years
ahead of celebrations of revolution day in January next year that they
are enjoying a lion's share of tourists.
A tour of Plan International Hotel also known as the Dream of
Zanzibar and Hideaway of Nungwi Resort and Spa showed how Zanzibar has
made a breakthrough in the industry with state of the art hotels.
The Hideaway of Nungwi Resort and Spa, East Africa Sales and
Marketing Manager, Mr George Kiruku, said that the eight-month-old hotel
has turned Nungwi into a place to be and improved the economy of people
around.
"We have employed over 250 staff many of whom are coming from
Zanzibar and others from Tanzania Mainland. There are only 15 foreigners
working in this hotel," he said.
"Rates for our rooms here range from 205 to 4,000 US dollars per
night and for the most of the time our hotel is fully booked. The
business is good here and we enjoy investing in this beautiful Island,"
he said.
The Dream of Zanzibar Resort Manager, Mr Allan Ochsner, said his
hotel was enjoying the business climate in the Island with many tourists
preferring to stay with them. "Our hotel has 157 rooms but we receive
up to 200 guests per day. We have been here for almost five years now
and we are happy with the business," he said.
He added that the experience shows that the number of tourists
visiting the hotel has kept on increasing, thanking the government for
maintaining peace and tranquility.
"The hotel has employed 242 staff most of whom are locals (from
Zanzibar and Mainland), our workers are doing a great job and are
enjoying working with us," he said.
Sijali Komanya is one of the workers at the hotel, she works as a
waitress in the hotel's bar near the beach and she said she was enjoying
her work.
"Investors here are amusing and guests are also good, we enjoy
working here and we are in a way sharpening our skills especially in
language through interaction with foreigners," she said, adding that she
speaks Italian, French and Germany.
Meanwhile, the hoteliers are facing shortage of some food stuffs,
resorting to importation that makes some types of food expensive.
Mr Ochsner of the Dream of Zanzibar said that if the Isles would find
strong investment in green house, would go a long way in answering the
challenge.
The Zanzibar Tourism Commission (ZTC) Plan Officer, Dr Miraji Ukuti
Ussi, commented on the matter saying that various talks were underway
with farmers to increase quality and quantity of food production.
He added that investment in the agricultural sector was also a
priority in the government's plans. Data have it that the sector
contributes 80 per cent of the foreign currency and 27 per cent of Gross
Domestic Product (GDP).
SOURCE: By Abdulwakil Saiboko, 13 December 2013
Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)
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