Zanzibar President, Dr. Hussein Mwinyi has underscored the need for strong collaboration between the ministries responsible for tourism in both Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar for further promoting tourism industry. Dr. Mwinyi made his position yesterday after meeting mainland minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr. Damas Ndumbaro and Zanzibar Minister for Tourism and Antiquities, Lela Mohamed Mussa.
He said the ministries have a key responsibility to strengthen the existing cooperation in supporting the ongoing efforts to promote the tourism industry in the country make the Tanzania's tourism sector be more competitive in the global market. Dr. Mwinyi commended the leadership of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism in Tanzania mainland for the great efforts it was taking to strengthen the tourism industry in the country, and promised that the Isles Revolutionary Government was doing efforts to strengthen work relations between the two ministries.
"Tourism is the main contributor to Zanzibar's economy that is why the Government has been promoting tourism," said Dr. Mwinyi. He insisted that both ministries should come together and discuss various challenges facing the industry with a view to finding solutions. The President said his Government has been supporting plans to promote Zanzibar and Tanzania mainland as the best destinations for international conferences (Conference Tourism).
On his part, Dr. Ndumbaro said the purpose of his meeting with his fellow Tourism Minister was to build and strengthen cooperation for boosting the tourism industry in the country. Ndumbaro said during the meeting they agreed to draft a 'Memorandum of Understanding' (MoU) and identify areas of cooperation through different levels, in order to improve coordination of tourism activities. "We have discussed about the 65th meeting of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) to be held in Tanzania which would put the country on the tourism map," he said.
The World Tourism Organisation is the United Nations specialised agency entrusted with the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. He explained that they (Tourism Ministers) are determined to put in place strategies to facilitate the conference, adding that Zanzibar is a good tourist destination; therefore, the conference was another opportunity to benefit from.