ZCT moves to protect beaches in Zanzibar

Dar es Salaam. The Zanzibar Commission of Tourism (ZCT) has issued a stern warning to businesses operating along the beaches without a licence, saying that those who disobey will face legal action.

ZCT executive director, Ms Hafsa Mbamba, issued the warning following a two-day inspection at the Kendwa and Nungwi beaches, during which she ordered the closure of all businesses operating in the areas illegally.

Ms Mbamba said the aim of the two-day exercise, which also went along with cleaning of the beach areas, was to close down all businesses that pose a risk to the beaches, the main tourist attractions in the isles.

She said that such operations will continue in order to ensure that all beaches are tidy and up to tourism standards.

"The inspection went well, but before this exercise, our officials educated the public on the procedures that should be followed before establishing a business in the beach areas, so we have closed the businesses that do not meet these standards,” she said, adding that others were given the notice to go to ZCT offices to explain why they were operating without a licence.

The isles are famous for their powdery white sands and clear tropical waters, which made Zanzibar the leading beach destination in Africa for 2022, and its amazing Kendwa Beach was ranked 4th best in the world and top in Africa this year by the travel magazine Big 7.

“We cannot use a lot of funds to promote tourism while our attractions, like the beaches, are not clean. So we should protect and keep our beaches clean to meet international standards,” Ms Mbamba said.

She said that they will work closely with other relevant authorities, like municipalities and the land commission, to ensure that all businesses done at the beaches follow regulations.

"We are not prohibiting people from doing business, but at least they should obey the laws, including obtaining a licence,” she noted.

ZCT’s Director of Management and Coordination of Tourism Activities, Mr Adil George, said that no business or any activity is allowed in the coastal buffer zone area, which is a transition area between land and sea spaces.

“Beaches are a place for locals and tourists to rest and swim, not a place to put up posters. According to the municipal regulations, posters should be placed on the road, not the beach. Currently, businesses are operating in this area against the law. This is public space and should remain so,” he said.