By The Respondents reporter
Tanzania’s government, in coordination with the Zanzibar administration, will continue efforts to develop tourism in Pemba Island as part of a broader strategy to attract investment, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth.
Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Hamad Hassan Chande said the Union government was working closely with the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar to strengthen the tourism sector and ensure local communities benefit from the island’s cultural and natural assets.
He was speaking at the launch of the sixth Pemba Tourisport and Cultural Bonanza 2026, a four-day festival combining sports, culture, and tourism promotion aimed at positioning Pemba as an emerging tourist destination for domestic and international visitors.
Chande said the event would showcase the island’s attractions and encourage repeat visits from foreign tourists, while also appealing to Tanzanians to explore destinations beyond the mainland and Unguja.
“This festival provides an opportunity for Tanzanians and visitors to experience Pemba’s diverse attractions and to return not just once, but many times,” he said.
The deputy minister urged tourism authorities to promote new and lesser-known tourism products on the island through innovative marketing, saying Pemba should move beyond being a short-stop destination and instead attract long-term investment that contributes to national revenue.
He added that the festival also offered young people a platform to display talents in sports, arts, and cultural activities, helping them access employment opportunities, develop creative industries, and promote small businesses.
Zanzibar Tourism Commission Acting Executive Secretary Adil George said the festival reflected the vision of Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi to drive economic transformation in Pemba through tourism, sports, and cultural industries.
The Pemba Tourisport and Cultural Bonanza is expected to play a growing role in promoting the island, strengthening social cohesion, and increasing the contribution of tourism to Zanzibar’s and Tanzania’s economies.