PRINCIPAL Secretary in Zanzibar’s Ministry of Tourism and Heritage, Dr Aboud Suleiman Jumbe has emphasized that investing in innovative products and solutions is key to enhancing uniqueness and attracting more visitors to the country.

According to him, various innovative efforts made by the government and stakeholders have greatly contributed to the tourism sector growth, with over two million tourists visiting Tanzania by August, generating $3 million in foreign exchange for the nation.

He made the remarks during the launch of the first-ever QR Pay by Link with Click to Pay service, Jumbe emphasized that this initiative would significantly enhance travel trade and boost tourism receipts.

The QR Pay by Link solution allows customers, as well as non-customers of the bank, to make payments globally by simply scanning NMB QR codes with their cards.

Dr Jumbe highlighted that financial innovations like the 'NMB QR Pay by Link', will enhance the appeal of Tanzania as a tourist destination, ultimately boosting revenues across the entire travel trade value chain.

He praised NMB Bank and Mastercard for their innovative partnership, noting that this novel solution would not only transform the local payment landscape but also position Zanzibar and Tanzania as leaders in providing unique services to tourists.

“The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar will continue to collaborate closely with NMB Bank and other national stakeholders to strengthen and grow the tourism sector,” he said.

He added: “The launch of this service will create new opportunities in our economy, which has seen significant growth over the past four years thanks to strong support from financial institutions.”

During the ceremony, Mastercard recognised NMB as the first bank globally to offer the QR Pay by Link with Click to Pay service, presenting a special award to the bank, which was accepted by Filbert Mponzi, NMB’s chief of retail banking.

Mponzi noted that the new payment solution reflects NMB's forward-thinking approach, positioning it as a global leader in digital payments.

“We are proud to partner with NMB on this innovative initiative, a first of its kind worldwide, marking a significant achievement for both the country and its people,” he said.

He stated that the new product ushers in a new era of touchless digital payments, benefiting both Tanzanians and tourists visiting Zanzibar.

“This is a historic advancement in digital payments," he said, "advancing the national payment system and providing secure QR codes for transactions.”

He added that the innovation would expand payment options for local businesses not currently integrated into formal payment systems, allowing them to utilize the ‘NMB QR Pay by Link’ as an alternative to traditional POS solutions.

“This groundbreaking payment method will enhance efforts by both the Union and Zanzibar governments to position Tanzania as a more attractive tourist destination, enabling visitors to transact easily while in the country,” Mponzi said.

He noted that Zanzibar welcomed 700,000 visitors last year.

He also mentioned that over 100 businesses in Zanzibar have already adopted the ‘NMB QR Pay by Link’ service, recognising its significant business potential and economic benefits.