Fastjet Tanzania,the low-cost pan-African airline
has introduced daily flights to the Spice Islands of Zanzibar from Dar es
Salaam that will commence effectively from 11th January 2016. The flights will
depart once daily from Monday to Friday and twice every Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday and on weekends with an affordable return fare rate of Sh. 70,000 until 21st March 2016. This is
good news for stakeholders in tourism industry as travellers especially
tourists who frequent Zanzibar from various parts of the world for
holidaymaking will now enjoy special fares for travel from the airline. The
airline made the announcement a few days ago as a strategic means to cater for
the needs of its customers’ demand according to the airline policy. It is also
expected that the move will help tour and travel agencies come up with more
attractive packages for holidays and safaris in Zanzibar. The launch of the
daily flight schedules is a boom for tourism industry in the Isles as there
will be a tremendous increase number of people who are anxious to visit most
tourist destination centres recognized as world heritage sites by UNESCO. Safari
and tour operators in Tanzania have welcomed the news as it will further strengthen
their business ties with the rest of the world as tourism has over the years
emerged as a leading source of the countries revenue. This latest move by
Fastjet is bound to further impact positively on the airline’s market share on
the route where it will have a competitive edge over other airlines operating
along the same route. According to the Fastjet General Manager Jimmy Kibati,
Fastjet’s passengers wanting to fly to Zanzibar will now have a choice of
departure days, no more being restricted to starting their flight on either a
Tuesday or a Thursday as it is now. According to him, the Dar-Zanzibar flight
that will also be connecting to Johannesburg in South Africa is in line with
Fastjet’s policy of listening to its customers’ demands. He says that flights
to South Africa will depart Zanzibar at 09h30 and land in Johannesburg at
13h20, with the return flight from Johannesburg departing at 14h10 and landing
in Zanzibar at 19h40 (all local times). The new route will be sweet music to
the ears of local and international holiday makers who will now have a choice
of departure days, unlike before when they were restricted to start their
holidays on either a Tuesday or a Thursday.
Tickets for the Zanzibar flights are on sale immediately, with one way fares
from Dar es Salaam starting from Tsh 22,000 and fares from Zanzibar starting
22,000, making a return flight to the Spice Islands from Dar es Salaam start at
only Tsh 70,000 including airport charges and government taxes. Zanzibar's
capital is the historical Stone Town, home to much of Zanzibar's tourism
industry. It is also a world heritage site as there is a lot to be proud of in
terms of tourism as there are very many destinations and activities to enjoy on
a holiday or safari. The town is home to numerous historical and cultural
sites, including Makusurani graveyard where many of the island’s previous Arab
rulers are buried. The beautiful beaches in Zanzibar and the amazing cultural
experience the island offers are some other attractive features to be enjoyed.
Another
fascinating feature is the House of
Wonders which is a four-storey building to be the first place on the islands
with electrical lights, Hamani and Kidichi Persian Baths, Dunga Ruins (a palace
built in the 15th century by the rulers of the time), and the Peace Memorial
Museum, which serves a national historical museum detailing the island's long
history. Zanzibar is home to large amounts of beaches and clear Indian Ocean
waters, as well as coral and limestone scarps which allow for significant
amounts of diving and snorkeling. The diving and snorkeling are done in marine
parks. The aquatic life boasts of dolphins, moray eels, lion fish, octopus and
lobsters, among others. Tourists may also go dhow cruising around the small
islands. Moreover, tourists can view the scenic sunset as they savour the
Island’s akies. The town is famous for its spice tours as tourists visit the
various coconut and spice plantations in the island. Zanzibar is known for its
variety of spices that are used to prepare food, cosmetics and medicines. Some
of the fruits available include banana, coconut, lime, jackfruit and
breadfruit. The spices available include clove, nutmeg, black pepper, vanilla
and coriander. Besides, the Island is also known for its salt and seaweed farms
that may be visited by tourists. Tour operators in the country now have an
opportunity to create and market cost effective tour packages with some of
these amazing destinations at more affordable Fastjet prices compared to the
rest of the flight operators operating on the
Dar es Salaam-Zanzibar route. Statistics by the Ministry of Tourism in
Zanzibar shows that in 1984, fewer than 20,000 tourists visited Zanzibar and,
now the number is pegged to about 200,000 tourists per year. Stakeholders have
noted that, the slowly growing tourism industry in the Isles is mainly due to
ineffective transport from the mainland. But this time around, the introduction
of regular flight schedules by Fastjet will boost the industry to a
comparatively higher level. Many visitors come on circuits from the north and
south with domestic flights by Precision Air, Coastal Aviation, ZanAir, and
other private charters. “Fastjet’s
lowest fares to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam will be significantly cheaper than
those charged by the only airline currently flying this route, who do so only
twice a week. In fact, passengers flying
between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar cannot find return fares lower than Tsh
70,000 during the months of December 2015, January and February 2016”, notes
Kibati. Previously, Fastjet partnered with Dar es Salaam-based Coastal Aviation
charter flight to fly passengers to Zanzibar, but flights were restricted to
daylight flights and involved transfers and luggage collection on the ground in
Dar es Salaam. “What’s more, paying less for flights means that holidaymakers
now have the choice to perhaps upgrade their accommodation, or to take the
whole family along instead of leaving the little ones at home with the
grandparents”, adds Kibati. With Fastjet’s cheapest fares almost half the price
of existing lowest fares, the airline expects many of its passengers on this
flight to be first time visitors to Zanzibar, who would otherwise not have been
able to afford to travel to what is a popular holiday destination for local and
international travellers. “Affordable
fares makes it easier for more tourists and other visitors to travel to
Zanzibar, which in turn will boost tourism on the island and contribute
significantly to Zanzibar’s’ economic growth,” the GM concludes.
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