Annual gala dinner of the zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors (ZATI) at the Serena Inn in Zanzibar over the weekend

Zanzibar's Serena Inn by the pool where the function was held

Board Member Simai Mohammed Said of Zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors thanked by Zanzibar's 2nd Vice President Ambassador Iddi Seif for a suprise gift he was given during the ZATI gala night dinner over the weekend at the Serena Inn in the Isles

Thank you your Excellency... says Mr Simai
Mohamed as he hugs the 2nd VP

The 2nd VP of Zanzibar takes his leave

Mr Simai Mohammed Said being recognised by ZATI for his dedication and for serving the ZATI Chairman for 5 years (2005-2010). In between, ZATI Chairman Mr Abdulsamad Said with the guest of Honour Second Vice President of Zanzibar Hon Balozi Seif Iddi

Mr Ali Khalil Mirza, Director of Zanzibar Tourism Board being recognise for his initiatives of implemeting the Private Public Partnership by the Zanzibar Association of Tourism Invetostors. Far Left is the ZATI Chairman Mr Abdulsamad Said

ZATI chairman have a laugh with his Excellency

ZAWADI KUTOKA KWA MKURUGENZI WA UNITED PETROLEUM MR COLLINS

Breathtaking acrobatics

Entertainment time

Thank you Zantel

The High Table

Chief Guest 2nd Vice President of Zanzibar Ambassador Seif Idd inytroduced to ZATI members

Inestors share light moments of the evening

ZATI DINNER : SPEECH FROM THE ZATI CHAIRMAN ABDULSAMAD SAID 19th Feb 2011 AT ZANZIBAR SERENA INN

Our Guest of Honor this evening,

The Second Vice President of Zanzibar Hon Balozi Seif Iddi,

Minister for Information, Culture, Tourism and Sports Hon Abdillahi Jihad,

Minister of State, Second Vice Presidents office, Hon Mohammed Aboud,

Minister for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon Mansoor Yussuf Himid,

Our Sponsors for the Evening, from Zantel and United Petroleum.

Principle Secretaries and Directors from the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar

Various Dignitaries and Distinguished Guests and

ZATI Members

Good Evening. First and foremost, allow me to thank you, our guest of honor this evening Hon Balozi Seif Iddi for having agreed to be here with us today. We are honored to have you in the presence of ZATI members and other stakeholders, to this we say thank you very much.

To continue, let me begin by saying that, this is my first annual ZATI dinner event representing ZATI as a Chairman. Waswahili wanasema, bado Mpya…English meaning, I’m still new…

I took over the Chairmanship last year, having succeeded my brother Simai whom I was his Deputy Chairman for one year. Since December after being elected as the ZATI Chairman, along with my Deputy Chairman Mr. Bobby McKenna, who you have already heard from tonight as he is our MC. With the support of our Board, we have initiated various meetings, some were in Zanzibar and others in mainland Tanzania.

As always we rely on you, our Governing Council and membership, to set our agenda for our ZATI advocacy activities, and so please know that we are here to assist you. You have already had me address several subjects this year.

For example, there have been some problems regarding unlicensed people taking tourism around Fumba and also issues that are affecting the beautiful Mnemba atoll. We are in the process of tackling these problems on your behalf.

Since I have been appointed, we have also been attending several meetings, notably with –

· The Police, (on your security issues)

· Electricity, (discussion with ZECO regarding power problems)

· Various ministries (such as Agriculture about vegetable growing for hotels)

· The UNDP (regarding improving our management statistics for tourism so we can better monitor the growth of our industry here)

· The Ministry of State for the Office of the Second Vice President, (on the subject of unlicensed bars which are causing public nuisance)

· And…

· Tanzanian Confederation of Tourism and the Tanzanian Tourism Board.) - regarding the recent controversy about Tanzania partnering with Seychelles on marketing, to which we have been assured that this is not the case and that Tanzania will always be the land of Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Zanzibar.

Hon. Second Vice President, the main issues of ZATI which have been a cry for our members are issues such as water shortages in Stone town and other areas such Nungwi, Michamvi and Matemwe, Security issues which have a direct safety to our visiting guests, rising numbers of papasi loitering and harassing tourists in the beaches and streets of stone town and lack of inadequate power supply for the hotels. These are just few areas ZATI continues to pursue and address to the government on behalf of its members.

Hon Vice President, the success of our private sector organization ZATI is very much dependant on the relationships that we have with the Public Sector, and so this is my opportunity to thank those members of the Government who have been so willing to hear our issues and assist us during Simai's reign as Chairman. I look forward to further good relations and co-operation in the future. To this end we hope that your doors will always be open for us and that you can be our patron, to support this growing industry to thrive and achieve its potential for the people and the economy of Zanzibar.

2011 promises to be another busy and successful year for ZATI.

Firstly - We’re going to be close than ever to the Government: -

We are looking forward to participating in the Public / Private dialogue promoted by the TPSF and this we believe will be the vehicle for our good relations and our progressing industry.

Secondly - We will also get the private sector to work together for effectiveness: -

We are also planning to set up sub committees within ZATI to deal with your regional issues and certain topics such as marine conservation. Please, we urge you to be part of these committees, this is where we can address issues, help each other to solve them, and start to really make our investor environment easier place.

Finally, I would like to thank our Board for their support, especially Julia our Director and Bobby our Vice Chairman, Organizations such as UNDP, Tanzania Gatsby Trust, SNV Tanzania, BEST AC, Ministry of Information, Culture and Sports, The Second Vice President’s Office, Tanzania Private Sector Foundation, Tourism Confederation of Tanzania, The First Vice Presidents Office, Busara Promotions for their cultural tourism promotion, Tanzania Police Force, Serena Hotel for hosting our events, Stone Town Conservation and Development Authority, ZATI members and without forgetting our main sponsors of the evening, ZANTEL and UNITED PETROLEUM.. CAN WE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE?

Hon Second Vice President, on behalf of ZATI members, may I request you to send our warm greetings to HE The President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Zanzibar Revolutionary Council Dr Ali Mohammed Shein and HE The President of the United Republic of Tanzania HE Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete. We wish them the best of health in the line of duty.

MAY I REQUEST YOU ALL TO STAND AND RAISE YOUR GLASSES AND TOSS FOR OUR PRESIDENTS.

TO THE PRESIDENTS

I am now honored to introduce our new Minister for Information, Culture, Tourism and Sports, the Honorable Mr. Abdillahi Jihad Hassan, who is going to say a few brief words before introducing our guest of honor, yourself Hon 2nd Vice President.