There is a growing preoccupation in general for tourism sustainability, and it is a vital concern in particular in Zanzibar.
There is different words that refers to tourism sustainability: Responsible Tourism, Ecotourism, Sustainable Tourism. They all try to promote (or are supposed to do so) a tourism which is more acceptable from an environmental and social point of view (cf “Why sustainable tourism is required").
Different categories of people are interested in promoting a more responsible tourism:
- Tourists of course are interested: They want to decrease the negative impact of their journey on the environment and on local communities, spend their money in a way that can be beneficial for the local people, and at the same time enjoy a closer experience with the country, its nature and people.
- Local communities are supposed to benefit from this “more responsible” tourism. Fair wages, good working conditions, job stability contribute to their well-being. And environment preservation is a condition for them to be able to continue living and working as they always did.
- Tourism professionals are the last (but not the least) interested in this “green tourism”. For them, it is a very effective way to sell high added value goods and services. At the same time, sustainability is a key factor for them to be able to continue their activity.
As you can see, responsible tourism can be a win-win strategy. Nevertheless, be watchful: as it is the case elsewhere, money, power and information give a dominant position. And the question is: between local communities and tourism professionals, who have the money, power and information?
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