Zanzibar set for first tourism investment summit

Zanzibar is getting ready for its first tourism investment summit and has released an official timetable for the grand event.

Zanzibar tourism stakeholders are all set for the first tourism investment summit to take place on the island later this month, targeting to connect tourism investors from East Africa, Africa, and other tourist market sources in the world.

Branded as “The Z Summit,” this international tourism summit is scheduled to take place from February 23 to 24 at Zanzibar’s Airport Golden Tulip Convocation Centre.

Zanzibar President Dr. Hussein Mwinyi is expected to officiate the opening of The Z Summit that was organized jointly by the Zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors (ZATI) and Kilifair, tourism exhibition organizers in Northern Tanzania.

Zanzibar’s Minister for Tourism and Heritage, Mr. Simai Mohammed Said, will join the island’s president during the opening session of the event.

The 2-day event will be colored with tourist exhibitions expected to attract over 100 exhibitors mostly from high-class tourist hotels, resorts, airlines, banks, and adventure companies.

Over 200 travel agents from all over East Africa, Europe, and other parts of the world are expected to participate the grand event. A series of seminars and tourism investment discussions and business interactions will also highlight the event.

Selected buyers have been invited for familiarization trips in Zanzibar for site inspections during the weekend and after the event.  The Z-Summit is expected to attract and then bring together business executives from top class hotels, lodges, and resorts mainly from Zanzibar, along with tour operators as well as excursion and water sports companies. Other participants include tourism suppliers, airlines, banks, insurance companies, hospitality and tourism colleges, travel magazines, and media outlets.

Rising as the best destination mostly for beach and marine tourism in East Africa, Zanzibar is an archipelago of islands located in the Indian Ocean. There are several smaller islands and 2 larger ones, -these are Unguja (Zanzibar) and Pemba Island. Further south is Mafia Island which is part of Tanzania’s Mafia archipelago.

Zanzibar is home to red colubus monkey and servaline genet, endemic to the island. The servaline genet was known to locals for some time prior to its discovery by zoologists, and has only recently been classified by scientists. It is distinct in appearance, with black spots on tan-colored fur and their long tails ringed with black-colored bands.

From Zanzibar, tourists can extend their visiting itineraries then visiting Tanzania mainland wildlife parks for photographic safaris where they can see lions, elephants, giraffes, and other big mammals.

In addition to rich heritage sites and warm beaches, Zanzibar offers watersport excursions with beautiful sightings of underwater and other marine animals.