TANZANIA - SEYCHELLES DEAL RATTLES ZANZIBAR

A deal that will see Tanzania and Seychelles promote each other’s tourist attractions has rattled Zanzibar, which says the partnership could kill its beach industry.

The Tanzania-Seychelles deal is the culmination of a 2010 memorandum of understanding that will see Air Seychelles launch twice-weekly flights to Dar es salaam to offer tourists hassle-free trips between the Indian Ocean Island and the Tanzania mainland, starting this week.

Zanzibar is particularly concerned that it will be cut off since Seychelles will offer tourists a combined bush-beach package. Traditionally, after visiting Tanzania mainland’s wildlife rich attractions, tourists go to the Zanzibar Isles for a beach holiday.

“We have to prepare ourselves psychologically in the next couple of the years, when we go to travel shows like World Travel Market in London or ITB Berlin; when you look at the summer brochures, Seychelles will be promoting safaris in mainland Tanzania and beach relaxation in Seychelles at the expense of Zanzibar,” Zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors (Zati) board member Simai Mohammed Said said.

Zanzibar Tourism Minister  Said Ali Mbarouk denied knowledge of such a deal but Tanzania Natural Resources and Tourism Deputy Minister Mahmoud Mgimwa said the MoU is there and it is more beneficial to Zanzibar than the mainland.

“Zanzibar has beaches like Seychelles, so logically, they can learn more from Seychelles than Tanzania mainland, whose tourism is based on wildlife,” Mr Mgimwa told The EastAfrican.

He said Zanzibar cannot run away from competition, particularly in tourism.

“We must learn to compete if we are to remain relevant. A protectionist approach has no place in this world. We either compete or die. Kenya has the same arrangement with Seychelles, and yet it has the Mombasa beaches, why not Tanzania?” he asked.

In the deal, Mr Mgimwa said, Seychelles will be promoting the Zanzibar-Bagamoyo and Tanga beaches with an eye to boosting tourist numbers in Tanzania.

The Seychelles honorary consul in Tanzania, Maryvonne Pool said she hoped the airline would benefit Zanzibar as well.

“I know that we can partner in many areas of tourism, and export of produce and authentic spices from Zanzibar ,” Pool added.

Tourism is the largest source of foreign exchange for Zanzibar, contributing about 27 per cent to GDP, and 80 per cent of foreign direct investment. It creates direct employment for 15,000 people and, 50,000 others indirectly and generated export earnings of about $116 million in 2012.

In 2013, the island recorded 175,067 foreign visitors, surpassing its 160,000 target. The island has been a target for high-spending tourists, competing closely with Seychelles, Mauritius and Maldives.

A rich culture and old Arabic architecture attract thousands of tourists to the island each year.

The East African