ZANZIBAR Ministry of Tourism and Heritage expects to register tourist accommodations to ensure the quality and safety of the services provided in the sector.

Mudrik Ramadhan Soraga,  Minister for Tourism and Heritage unveiled this here yesterday when speaking at the tourism stakeholders’ meeting, where he said the exercise will be done in phases.

He said initially the exercise will start in Urban West Region, involving Stone Town, Mlandege, Michenzani, Chukwani, Mbweni, Fumba, Kama, Chuini, and Bububu streets.

Minister Soraga added that the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism will start an inspection of the accommodation to ensure that they have all the required standards for housing tourists.

Despite the license being granted, he added the commission has the power to terminate the license at any time if it is found to have used fraudulently, misleading, or falsified information during the application.

Soraga said that the Tourism Commission continues to insist that any person who violates any of the provisions of those regulations will be given a special punishment and if proven to have committed a crime, he/she will be convicted and required to pay a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $5,000.

Hafsa Mbamba, Executive Secretary of the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism said that the meeting was held to bring together all players in the industry and be able to receive insightful opinions in their institutions.

Mbamba also said that the commission has prepared a tourism exhibition that is expected to start soon; the aim of starting the exhibition is to see the growing tourism industry in the country.

He further asked the stakeholders to continue to support the sector to ensure that they succeed in the exhibition as a large percentage of Zanzibar's revenue comes from the tourism sector.