The Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), in collaboration with the Zanzibar Tourism Commission (ZCT), has launched a joint initiative to promote the VoteNow campaign, which was officially inaugurated at Kitulo National Park.
This campaign is designed to encourage Tanzanians to vote for the country’s tourism attractions competing for the prestigious 2025 World Travel Awards.
The effort aims to increase public participation, particularly among young people, in showcasing Tanzania on the global stage through the power of their votes.
In Zanzibar, the campaign primarily targets university students from institutions such as the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA), Zanzibar University (ZU), and the Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial University College.
This demographic, which is highly active on social media, has the ability to rapidly spread the VoteNow message, making them a key focus of the campaign.
Dr. Halima Kiwango, the Chief Conservation Officer and Head of TANAPA's Zanzibar Liaison Office, highlighted that this partnership is an important step in strengthening the tourism sector’s ties between Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania.
She stressed that this initiative offers a unique opportunity to engage youth in learning about, appreciating, and actively promoting their country’s natural heritage, while fostering national unity through tourism.
“This campaign leverages modern technology and social media platforms to disseminate the message quickly and effectively. It’s an innovative way to attract tourists while also promoting national cohesion,” said Dr. Kiwango.
Hakim Kimara, the Public Relations Officer at the Zanzibar Tourism Commission, noted that Zanzibar plays a crucial role as a gateway for tourists entering the country, with many continuing their journey to the Eastern Region’s parks such as Mikumi, Nyerere, and the Udzungwa Mountains.
Through this partnership, tourists will be encouraged to extend their travel itineraries by visiting attractions across both sides of the Union, thereby increasing their stay in the country and contributing to national revenue.
As part of the campaign rollout, TANAPA and ZCT have been visiting universities to educate students about the significance of international awards and guide them on how to participate through the official World Travel Awards website.
They are also encouraging the wider community to use various communication channels to ensure broad participation in the voting process.
Alais Munka, Second Degree Conservation Officer at TANAPA's Liaison Office in Dar es Salaam, shared that previous student-focused campaigns have been highly successful, citing past victories for Serengeti National Park and Mount Kilimanjaro in the African categories of the World Travel Awards.
This year, mainland Tanzania has submitted a total of 10 parks for consideration across eight award categories, while Zanzibar is represented in three: Best Beach Attraction, Best Tourism Board, and Leading Festival Attraction. Citizens are encouraged to cast their votes through the official website:
www.worldtravelawards.com/vote
Moreover, TANAPA and ZCT held a strategic meeting on April 8, 2025, to plan how to implement this year’s campaign more effectively, with a particular focus on engaging university students in Zanzibar.
The goal is to enhance the success and influence of the VoteNow campaign, ensuring a significant impact this year.
