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With its pristine beaches, Swahili culture, and rising appeal as a luxury destination, Zanzibar is positioning itself as a leading player in sustainable tourism.
In this exclusive interview with Gulf Business, Mudrick Ramadhan Soragha, Minister of Tourism of Zanzibar, outlines the island’s vision for high-value, low-impact tourism, discussing everything from strategic partnerships with Gulf nations and rising GCC visitor numbers to eco-resorts, cultural conservation, and a new digitally enabled airport terminal.
Zanzibar is gaining attention as a premium beach and cultural destination. How is your tourism strategy balancing luxury development with the need to preserve the island’s natural ecosystems and Swahili heritage?
Zanzibar’s tourism strategy is guided by the principle of “sustainability with authenticity”. We recognise that while luxury tourism is vital to our economic growth, it must not come at the expense of our fragile marine ecosystems or our centuries-old Swahili heritage.
To ensure this balance, we have implemented rigorous environmental impact assessments as a prerequisite for all developments. We actively encourage sustainable design, favoring vernacular, low-impact architecture that integrates seamlessly with the natural and cultural landscape.
We are also working closely with UNESCO to safeguard heritage assets and ensure that all tourism development aligns with Zanzibar’s unique cultural identity.
Finally, community engagement remains central, ensuring that development uplifts local livelihoods and reflects the essence of Zanzibari heritage.
Many GCC countries are investing in luxury coastal developments and year-round beach tourism. What lessons or partnerships can Zanzibar explore with Gulf nations to enhance its own beach tourism offerings sustainably?
The visionary transformation of the Gulf into a hub for year-round luxury tourism provides a compelling blueprint for Zanzibar. We are exploring bilateral partnerships with the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain in areas such as hospitality investment, cultural exchange, and green infrastructure.
The Gulf region’s expertise in integrating climate-adaptive technologies, wellness and heritage experiences, and halal-friendly hospitality aligns well with Zanzibar’s ambitions. Already, we are in advanced discussions with entities like Qatar’s Retaj Group and other private investors in the region.
We want to ensure that future investors prioritise integrating the local community and that developments will directly benefit the local population. Ways to achieve this are to employ island staff for all hotel functions and to source furniture, arts and interior design from local artisans.
Our goal is to foster long-term Gulf-Zanzibar tourism investment corridors built on mutual values of innovation, sustainability, and respect for heritage.
With increasing tourism from the Middle East to East Africa, how is Zanzibar tailoring its tourism products to attract high-value travellers from the GCC while maintaining authentic experiences?
We are curating a suite of tourism experiences that speak directly to the preferences of Gulf travellers, particularly families, discerning couples, and faith-conscious tourists. These include ultra-private beachfront villas, halal culinary offerings, and bespoke cultural journeys that honor Zanzibar’s deep Islamic heritage.
We are also enhancing air connectivity and simplifying visa procedures for GCC nationals. This is why Zanzibar proactively pursued the opportunity to host the AVIADEV conference, as part of a broader strategy to attract more direct flights to the island.
Yet, even as we elevate our service offering to match the expectations of high-net-worth visitors, we remain committed to preserving Zanzibar’s soul, be it through traditional dhow sailing excursions, spice plantation tours, or immersive experiences.
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Over-tourism and climate change are placing strain on coastal destinations globally. What policies or infrastructure investments is your ministry prioritising to make Zanzibar’s beach tourism climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable?
We are acutely aware that Zanzibar’s future depends on ecological resilience. Central to our blue economy policy is our Marine Spatial Planning initiative, an ambitious coastal zoning project, in collaboration with various environmental partners, aimed at ensuring the sustainable use of marine and coastal resources.
In parallel, we are upgrading waste and water management infrastructure within major tourism zones and investing in the training of local communities on sustainable best practices. We are also establishing marine protected areas and implementing coral reef restoration projects, particularly around Pemba Island—a vital biodiversity hotspot.
Our long-term vision emphasises low-density, high-value tourism. By championing eco-conscious resorts over mass tourism models, we aim to protect both our environment and our cultural identity for generations to come.
How is Zanzibar leveraging digital tools, eco-certifications and smart tourism strategies to remain competitive in a global market?
Zanzibar is undergoing a digital transformation with the roll-out of smart visitor data systems, online licensing, and digital promotion platforms.
Through a UK-funded programme we are also piloting the introduction of eco-certifications for hotels and tour operators and promoting sustainable practices via capacity building for small enterprises.
By aligning with global sustainability benchmarks and embedding digital innovation, we aim to position Zanzibar as a regional leader in responsible tourism.
Give us a breakdown of people visiting Zanzibar from the GCC, highlighting perhaps the UAE as well as Saudi Arabia and other key source markets.
The Middle East, particularly the Gulf region, is emerging as a high-potential source market for Zanzibar. In 2024, arrivals from the UAE reached approximately 11,000, while Saudi Arabia accounted for 9,500 visitors.
Collectively, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain contributed an additional 6,000 tourists. These numbers place the GCC firmly within our top ten non-African source markets.
Our objective is to double this volume by 2027, supported by strategic airline partnerships, destination marketing, and tailored hospitality offerings.
Overall, 71.6 per cent of arrivals into Zanzibar were from Europe, with Italy, Germany, France, and Poland leading. African arrivals also grew strongly, with South Africa and Kenya showing double-digit growth.
The majority of travellers (86 per cent) are Millennials and Gen Z, with an average stay of eight nights. At 98.3 percent, leisure remains the primary purpose of travel to the island.
Tell us about the investment from the government towards tourism.
The government of Zanzibar is making transformative investments to unlock the full potential of the tourism sector, which has witnessed record growth. Last year Zanzibar welcomed 736,755 international visitors, a 15.4 per cent increase over 2023 and well above pre-pandemic levels, with hotel occupancy reaching 79.3 per cent in peak months.
Key investments to support the island’s continued tourism growth include the construction of the new international airport terminal at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, which has expanded the airport’s capacity to 1.5 million annual passengers and enhanced air connectivity to the destination.
With tourism now contributing over 27 per cent to Zanzibar’s GDP, accounting for 80 per cent of its foreign exchange earnings, and sector revenues exceeding $1bn in 2024, we are also developing state-of-the-art Tourism Training Institutes to equip the local workforce with the skills needed to meet international hospitality standards.
Moreover, substantial public-private investment is being directed toward eco-resorts, wellness centers, and sustainable marinas. Our heritage conservation initiatives are equally robust, and we are restoring architectural treasures in Stone Town and other cultural sites.
To protect travellers and reinforce market confidence, we are introducing tourism insurance schemes and launching digital service platforms.
All of these are anchored in our national vision of building a resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive tourism economy, grounded in sustainability and driven by innovation.
