The Zanzibar Tourism and Heritage Minister, Lela Mohamed Mussa on Wednesday received 215 tourists from Ukraine at the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA), saying the country is prepared for more tourists. "With easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions, we look forward to more tourists to come and enjoy Zanzibar. We have a lot to offer," said Ms. Mussa, shortly after the tourists from Ukraine disembarked from the "Sky-Up" plane.
Ms. Lesla Klymluk, Head of the tourists' group said: "We are happy to be in Zanzibar. We hope to enjoy our stay in the Spice Islands." The group will sample tourists' attractions in the country for ten days, thanks to the 'Join us' tour operator from Ukraine in collaboration with the destination management company, 'GO-GO Zanzibar' for organising the tour.
Minister Mussa was accompanied by the Ministry's Permanent Secretary (PS), Ms. Fatma Mabrouk Khamis, who requested the tourists to respect Zanzibar culture while enjoying their stay in the archipelago. Mr. Abu Hassan and Mr. Hafidh Ali Juma Shamhuna from 'GO-GO Zanzibar' said Sky-Up will be coming to Zanzibar on Wednesday and Saturday. It plans to increase its flights to Zanzibar to four times a week from next month (December).
Zanzibar which relies heavily on revenue from the tourism industry is slowly returning to normal after a devastating COVID-19 pandemic, which spared no business in the globe. President Hussein Mwinyi announced last week that he was optimistic about the future of the tourism business, which contributes about 27 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).