ZTC in bid to beautify Isles tourist attractions

ZANZIBAR: The Zanzibar Commission for Tourism (ZCT) has begun a public awareness exercise for the Waste Management Program to be officially launched on July 1 this year.

This initiative is an important part of the larger Greener Zanzibar and Sustainable Tourism campaign, which has been emphasized by Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi.

The campaign highlights the critical need for ecologically responsible tourism to preserve Zanzibar’s natural beauty and maintain its appeal to tourists from all over the globe.

“Tourism in Zanzibar thrives on our unique natural and cultural assets. However, sustainable practices have been optional for a very long time. It is instrumental in ensuring sustainable practices are mandatory to ensure continuity in the tourism sector in Zanzibar,” says Zanzibar Commission for Tourism Executive Secretary Arif Abbas Manji.

Following the start of the campaign, efforts to increase awareness about the necessity of sustainable tourism were stepped up.

Several channels were used, including local leadership, media outreach, and quarterly stakeholder meetings with tourist sector representatives.

These activities sought to educate and encourage tourist firms to adopt environmentally friendly practices, notably waste management.

Many hotels and restaurants have followed the campaign’s guidelines, displaying their dedication to environmental stewardship.

“If we do not act now, we risk long-term harm to our environment and economy. We aim to build a Zanzibar where tourist expansion is balanced with environmental responsibility,”  Mr Manji added.

Despite intensive education and public awareness initiatives, some institutions have failed to adopt sustainable waste management techniques.

The new initiative requires tourist firms to provide staff training on correct trash sorting, recycling, and disposal techniques.

The initiative also ensures that all waste streams, including organic waste and recyclable items, are appropriately segregated and stored in their facilities and also to contract with a licensed waste collection provider to ensure prompt and expert waste disposal.

ZCT will, moreover, take a proactive approach, providing training programs for hospitality personnel, defining clear waste management rules, and optimizing waste collection logistics to increase efficiency.

Failure to comply with waste management standards may result in severe fines, including the revocation of company licenses.

This enforcement technique is intended to assure complete compliance and build a culture of sustainability among tourist stakeholders.

Zanzibar’s deployment of this Waste Management Program marks a significant step towards presenting itself as a pioneer in sustainable tourism.

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This project illustrates the government’s commitment to environmental protection while safeguarding long-term development and prosperity for future generations.