2024-09-26 22:03:57
From October 1, travelers who want to go to the island of Zanzibar, in Tanzania, will have to pay upfront traveler insurance of 44 dollars. A measure that does not sit well with the tourism sector.
Along the aisles of the Tourism Fair, mid-September, in Paris, it is easy to spot the offers for the Tanzania : white sand beaches, parasols and turquoise water decorate the tour operators’ stands for Zanzibar. “ Tanzania, with Zanzibar, is Africa’s flagship destination, underlines René-Marc Chikli, president of the Union of Tour Operating Companies. We sell it like hot cakes “. But a shadow comes, according to him, to darken the postcard. “ Our friends from Zanzibar have invented an additional tax which increases the price of the package and on which we do not agree. It is a so-called repatriation insurance that must be taken out. However, people who go to Tanzania and go to Zanzibar are already insured by their own insurance, or via a contract. So, we are fighting to eliminate this insurance which serves no purpose other than to enrich an insurance company. ».
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Useful or useless insurance?
Owner of a hotel complex in Zanzibar and first-hand witness to his clients’ insurance problems, Bert Schoonvelde believes, on the contrary, that this new tax could meet a need. “ We know that 30 to 40% of tourists come without insurance. If they have an accident or a health problem, of course it becomes problematic. Some people don’t understand that they need to travel with medical insurance. » This new measure does not worry him too much. “ I don’t think this is really a problem. Plane tickets cost several hundred dollars. So $44 more… Some say it’s a way for thestate to ensure a new inflow of money. Maybe. But I don’t think $44 is a big deal, except maybe for budget travelers. But those who have a small budget do not come to Zanzibar. »
Confusion
Vice-president of the tour operator Flash Tour, Gehane Salah judges that this will create confusion among tourists. “ All customers know that they have insurance before leaving, it is compulsory with tour operators. So for them, I believe it will be a question mark : why do I pay for two insurance policies ? Especially since it must be done via an application by the customer before arriving. So, will it affect the destination or not ? It’s not so much the amount, it’s the procedure and it’s a bit complicated. Especially for many customers who don’t know how to cope online. »
2023 was a record year for tourism in Zanzibar. Nearly 650,000 people came to enjoy the beauty of the island. A financial windfall for Tanzania. THE tourism sector in the country employs 850,000 people and represents around 17% of its GDP.
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