Azam Marine has stepped up preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) by strengthening its capacity to transport fans, players and officials between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar during the tournament.
The preparations include the addition of Kilimanjaro 9, a new vessel that arrived in Tanzania in January and is expected to increase the company’s capacity to handle a surge in passenger traffic.
Azam Marine chief executive officer Abubakari Aziz Salim said the company was preparing to meet the increased demand expected during the continental football tournament.
“We have the capacity to transport up to 15,000 passengers a day,” Mr Salim said, adding that the company’s 33 years of experience in marine transport would be critical in supporting the event.
Beyond transport services, he said the tournament would create temporary employment opportunities as the company expands its operations to cope with increased passenger numbers.
Mr Salim urged Tanzanians to view AFCON 2027 as an opportunity to showcase the country’s hospitality and service standards to visitors from across Africa and beyond.
“Let us use this platform of AFCON 2027 to put Tanzania in the hearts of visitors,” he said.
He said the impact of hosting the tournament would extend beyond the matches, with the country’s preparations and ability to turn increased visitor numbers into business opportunities likely to shape the event’s long-term legacy.
The tournament is expected to increase movement between Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, creating additional demand for marine transport as well as accommodation, tourism, hospitality and other related services.
For Azam Marine, the preparations reflect the wider need for transport operators to ensure reliable and efficient movement of visitors as Tanzania positions itself to benefit from the opportunities associated with AFCON 2027.
