Faith Nyasuguta
A minister from the Tanzanian islands of Zanzibar has cautioned residents against insulting or abusing tourists wearing skimpy clothes.
According to Zanzibar Tourism Minister Simai Mohammed, the government would take action against those who offend tourists, a group of people crucial to the islands’ economy.
He said he would himself advise tourists who are not “decently dressed” to do so “and they would take it positively and correct what is wrong”.
“But this habit of insulting foreigners should be stopped,” he said, noting that the habit is becoming very common.
“In some areas of Stone Town along Kenyatta Road, the [number of] incidents have been so high. Anyone insulting tourists and telling them ‘go home’ I will deal with it very seriously,” he said.
Since time immemorial, tourism has been a significant source of income to the semi-autonomous territory and its largest source of foreign exchange.
In 2020 alone, the sector contributed an estimated 28% to the islands’ GDP and 82% of its foreign exchange earnings.
Zanzibaris are a mostly conservative and predominantly Muslim society.
