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Zanzibar hopes to attract more Indonesian tourists
A plan to introduce direct flights from Indonesia to the state are among the efforts conducted by Zanzibar to lure Indonesian tourists.
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Boats are anchored off the Zanzibar coast in Africa. (Shutterstock/File)
Z
anzibar, where the late legendary rock star Freddie Mercury of Queen was born, is aiming to attract Indonesian tourists to the semi-autonomous archipelago off the coast of Tanzania.
According to kompas.com, only a small number of Indonesians have visited Zanzibar, despite the many similarities between the two countries and its peoples.
"Zanzibar and Indonesia have enjoyed relations for 400 to 500 years. Cloves in Zanzibar came from Indonesia. In the past, Indonesians traded spices with Zanzibar by sailing during the Musson wind," said Zanzibar Information, Tourism and History Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo during the Zanzibar Tourism Show in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Mahmoud said that one similarity was that Zanzibar's population was also predominantly Muslim and it would therefore be easy for Indonesian Muslims to enjoy halal tourism there.
Business meetings were held between officials of the Zanzibar Tourism Ministry and Indonesian tourism players to introduce Zanzibar's tour packages. A plan to introduce direct flights from Indonesia to the state are among the efforts conducted by Zanzibar to lure Indonesian tourists.
"About 2 million Indonesians travel abroad. If we can attract just 1 percent of them, which is 20,000, it would be very good," said Mahmoud, adding that fewer Asians visited the archipelago than people from other regions.
Read also: Ministry optimistic about meeting 17 million foreign tourists target
Chinese tourists account for the largest number of Asian tourists to Zanzibar with 7,000 visitors per year, followed by India with 6,000 visitors.
According to the latest data, only 60 to 65 Indonesians have visited Zanzibar this year.
Known as a spice producer, Zanzibar boasts many destinations, including history, cultural, marine and adventure destinations as well as annual festivals.
Visas on arrival are available for Indonesians to enter Zanzibar. (kes)
