Just a week after the launch of the Vote Now campaign an initiative designed to rally support for Tanzania’s National Parks in the 2025 World Travel Awards thousands of university students across Zanzibar have enthusiastically joined the movement, casting their votes and spreading the message far and wide.
While continuing the campaign efforts on April 11, 2025, Senior Park Warden from Saadani National Park, Nengai Nairouwa, expressed delight at the overwhelming response from students, praising their active participation and patriotism.
“We’ve seen an incredible turnout from university students—not only are they registering and voting, but they’re also playing a key role in spreading awareness among their peers and communities. This is a clear demonstration of their national pride and their desire to see Tanzania’s flag fly high on the global tourism stage,” Nairouwa said.
Salum Makroni, a student at the Zanzibar Tourism College, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the campaign’s impact. “These campaigns directly connect with us because they aim to promote our country and elevate Tanzania’s position on the world map through tourism. We’re proud of our natural heritage, and it’s our responsibility to use it for national development. Voting is one way we make our voices heard,” he said.
The Vote Now campaign targets 10 national parks nominated across eight award categories. It has received an enthusiastic reception at various higher learning institutions, including the Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy, Zanzibar Tourism College, Zanzibar University, and the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA).
Many students have committed to becoming ambassadors of the campaign by leveraging social media and academic platforms to encourage more Tanzanians to vote, ensuring the country’s protected areas gain the international recognition they deserve.
