Friday, 5th July 2019, Hon. Mahmoud Thabit Kombo hosted a press conference to congratulate EssqueZalu Zanzibar for winning two awards (Tanzanian’s Leading Boutique Hotel and Zanzibar’s Leading Hotel 2019) in the 26th Annual World Travel Awards Africa and the Indian Ocean, which was held in Mauritius on 1st June 2019.
Many prominent dignitaries from tourism-related organizations from both public and private sectors attended this conference at Zalu Hotel to mention a few, Zanzibar Commission for Tourism (ZTS) and its commissioners, ZATI, ZATO, ZATOGA, ZTS as well as investors from the different value chain of the tourism industry.
Hon. Kombo highlighted that this year has been great for Zanzibar as it received different international accolades from Egypt, to Chumbe Island, Essque Zalu Zanzibar and Melia Zanzibar and as a Minister responsible for tourism industry, he feels an immense sense of fulfillment when Zanzibar demonstrate a remarkable ability to take an enviable place in the world.
He further explained that Zanzibar islands are blessed with exquisite flora and fauna as well as intriguing marine parks, which allow the creation of diverse quality products, which will eventually improve Zanzibar’s competitive advantage to its neighboring islands.
Minister Kombo, invited all stakeholders to participate and support Zanzibar Tourism Show, Zanzibar Tourism Awards, and Zanzibar Tourism Summit as these events are dedicated to the holistic development of the tourism industry here in Zanzibar. He also shared the good news to all present that he would be launching the Zanzibar National Branding Committee, which is a ministerial groundbreaking committee, which will consist of 26 prominent personalities in the tourism industry. The committee will be responsible for advocating a holistic tourism industry to increase visitation while preserving the destination’s natural and heritage assets along with ensuring mitigation of tourism negative impacts here in Zanzibar.
In his final note, Hon. Kombo urged both public and private sectors to strengthen their partnership and work together towards the development of tourism industry in Zanzibar.
