EFFORTS are being made by tourism authorities in Zanzibar to develop natural attractions in Zanzibar to bring more tourists seeking this sphere of travel specialties.

Mudrik Ramadhan Soraga, the Tourism and Heritage minister for Zanzibar, made this observation when speaking at events leading to the climax of the Kizimkazi Festival here yesterday.

He described the Kizimkazi Festival as a special opportunity for islanders to further develop the tourism sector, appearing at Makunduchi to receive a cycling competition that started in central Unguja and ended in Makunduchi suburb. 

The competition included women and people with disabilities, as a sports tourism event, covering the Mwenge Makunduchi to Kobao route, with the minister stating that the festival has been used to facilitate training for various groups.

These range from entrepreneurs, farmers, herders and artists, with the knowledge gained from the training expected to be used to measure success in economic transformation for each of the sectors, he said.

The growth of this sector is crucial for providing employment opportunities for Zanzibar youth, expanding the scope of opportunities, by seeking to make Zanzibar a regional tourism hub.

Zanzibar First Vice President Othman Masoud Othman said at the occasion that heritage tourism is essential for development in the Isles, as it leads to substantial foreign currency earnings, contributing to economic growth and job creation.

Zanzibar is poised to make significant progress in the tourism sector due to its rich heritage resources, but this cannot be fully realized unless large numbers of visitors come to Zanzibar to see these landmarks, he stated.

To pass on this heritage to coming generations, it is important to promote historical landmarks through various events that gather people, including organizing different types of festivals such as the Kizimkazi Festival, he elaborated.

Events like this are vital for developing efforts focusing on the existing heritage and related cultural spheres, he said, pointing at Unguja South Region as having many heritage aspects venues or sights.

Mahfoudh Said Omar, the festival chairman, mentioned that the festival serves as a platform to discover young talents from various areas, contributing to joint efforts in addressing the national unemployment problem.