Samia: Tourism jobs for locals
ZANZIBAR: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan on Friday ordered stricter enforcement of tourism regulations to ensure locals, particularly the youth, secure a direct share of the sector’s burgeoning wealth.
She drew a sharp line between foreign capital and local labour, insisting that while international firms manage large-scale hotel investments, tour operations and guiding must remain the exclusive domain of the locals.
“This must be enforced so that Tanzanians benefit directly from tourism development, failure to do so would undermine the sector’s contribution to inclusive growth,” she said.
She made the remarks yesterday while launching the Jaz Elite Aurora Hotel in Michamvi, South Unguja Region, Zanzibar. The launch formed part of activities marking the 62nd anniversary of the Zanzibar Revolution.
As she travelled to the event, the President said she observed visible improvements in housing and business activity along the southern corridor of Unguja, which she said reflected tourism’s growing impact on local livelihoods. She said that tourism has emerged as a key pillar of the national economy, employing more than 2.5 million Tanzanians and recording strong growth following the Covid-19 slowdown.
“By 2024, the number of international and domestic tourists reached 5,360,247, compared to 1,409,800 in 2020 when we were still emerging from Covid-19,” she said, adding that sustained government efforts had driven the sector’s recovery.
President Samia said tourism business agents increased from 2,885 in 2020 to 3,735 in 2025, while the number of tour guides rose from 5,076 to 7,862 during the same period. Tourism revenue also climbed to 4.2 billion US dollars (about 10.5tril/-).
“In Zanzibar, tourist arrivals increased from about 743,606 in 2024 to 816,000 PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has made a minor cabinet reshuffle by appointing and revoking appointments of some senior government officials.
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In the reshuffle, she has appointed Patrobas Katambi as the Minister for Home Affairs, prior to this appointment, he served as Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade. Mr Katambi replaced George Simbachawene, whose appointment has been revoked.
According to a statement released on Thursday by Chief Secretary, Ambassador Dr Moses Kusiluka and signed by the Director for Presidential Communications Bakari Machumu, Professor Palamagamba Kabudi has been appointed Minister of State in the President’s Office (Special Duties).
Prior to this appointment, Prof Kabudi served as Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, a post now taken over by Paul Makonda, who previously served as a Deputy Minister in the same docket.
President Samia has also appointed Dennis Londo as Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade. Before his appointment, Mr Londo was the Deputy Minister for Home Affairs.
Meanwhile, Ayoub Mahmoud has been appointed as Deputy Minister for Home Affairs. In a related appointment, Dr Richard Muyungi has been named Permanent Secretary in the Vice-President’s Office (Union and Environment), replacing Engineer Cyprian Luhemeja, who has been appointed Ambassador.
Furthermore, President Samia has appointed Engineer Zena Ahmed Said, Waziri Salum and Major General Mbaraka Mkeremy as Ambassadors. Eng Ally Samaje has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Tanzania Geological Survey (GST), replacing Dr Mussa Budeba.
The President has also revoked the appointment of Professor Eliakimu Zahabu as Chairperson of the Board of the National Carbon Monitoring Centre (NCMC). According to the statement, the swearing-in ceremony for the newly appointed leaders is scheduled to take place on January 13, 2026 at Chamwino State House in Dodoma.
