Captivating Zanzibar

 Written by Ali Ahmed Al Riyami in Zanzibar

Ali Ahmed al Riyami — Thanks to the multitude of scenic attractions, on land and sea, a rich heritage and culture, and a cosmopolitan make-up, Spice Island Zanzibar has succeeded in attracting droves of visitors and tourists ranging from West Asians, particularly from Oman, to Europeans and Americans.
Reflecting the importance of tourism to this Island nation’s economy, its tourism industry is its biggest income earner, earning more than even their lucrative agricultural sector.
It is no surprise, then, to see so many trendy, new and upcoming hotels, resorts and guesthouses that vary from the ultra-luxurious to economy-budget level, all around the Island of Zanzibar, and, to a lesser extent due to the focus on agriculture, in its sister Island of Pemba.

There are also a large number of tour operators available, offering a full range of specialised tours and sea-excursions. And whether you are with a group or travelling alone, there’s always something there to catch your eye, such as the massive Banyan tree (pictured) or Ficus Religiosa or Mkuyu in Swahili. It was planted by Sultan Sayyid  Khalifa bin Haroub on the occasion of the Bicentenary of the Al Busaidy dynasty on November 20, 1944. The tree is sacred for Buddhist and Hindu worshippers and a project of ‘Marking and Identifying Stone Town Trees — Zanzibar Stone Town Heritage Society (ZSTHS)’ was  funded by the Embassy of Sweden in 2005.

The Observer spoke to Nahida Nassor Mohammed, HR Manager at one of, if not the most exclusive and attractive hotels in Zanzibar, the Zanzibar Serena Hotel, located along the coast in Stone Town, to find out more about tourism in Zanzibar and its hospitality sector. She said, “I’ve been working at the hotel for the past 17-years; I work as a Human Resources Manager and had studied hotel industry 20-years back with a degree and a diploma.
“I worked at other hotels, including Polana in Mozambique, as a Guest Relations Officer, and then moved from Mozambique to Italy, at the Marina di Cala, and returned to Zanzibar when Serena was opening.”

Commenting on Zanzibar’s tourism development, she opined, “Tourism is developing every day and it is coming up nicely. It is not how it was when I returned to Zanzibar, it is pulling up and advancing; you can see for yourself how many 5,4 and 3 star-hotels there are here. It is developing, but everything has its own challenge; challenges are there.”
With regard to the Zanzibar Serena Hotel’s splendid appearance, even after a period of seventeen years, Nahida pointed out, “This is not just for Zanzibar Serena, but for all of the Serenas worldwide — we have standards, policies and documented regulations to ensure good, regular maintenance.”
The Serena was fully booked at the time of the interview, where she noted, “Here at the Zanzibar Serena, we don’t actually have a low season and a high season, there is a slight difference but not much.” This is partly due to the Island nations year-round temperate climate, which sees an influx of visitors coming in from Oman during the summer and from Scandinavia and other European countries in the winter.
Commenting on VIP guests that they receive, she said, “We do get a lot of celebrities and famous people coming here.
And in relation to what has kept her going in the industry for some two decades, she noted, “There are a lot of motivations and with the Serena Hotel, we do not only take care of our guests, we take care of our staff whom we retain even where we have negligible staff-turnover, which is the case with the other Serenas as well.”
She pointed out that she does not see the coming of new luxury hotels and resorts as a threat, but rather as a boost to the industry and healthy competition.
Thanks to the high standards they have maintained, the scenic views, good cuisine, ambience and décor, they welcome many returning guests to the hotel.
“Tourism has increased substantially. In Zanzibar we have a very good culture, we give priority to our guests, who are always welcome. This is a cosmopolitan, inter-cultural place where there is a strong feeling of oneness and togetherness,” Nahida added.

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