ARUSHA, Tanzania, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's Zanzibar archipelago on Wednesday launched a new local tourism campaign in an ambitious drive to boost local tourism.

Mgeni Hassan Juma, Deputy Speaker of Zanzibar House of Representatives, said the campaign which involves all key stakeholders is themed "Let us collaborate to promote domestic tourism."

"This is part of our new domestic tourism growth strategy aiming at encouraging tourism in Zanzibar," Juma said during the launch of the campaign.

Made up of two large islands - Unguja and Pemba - with many small islands, Zanzibar relied heavily on tourism for its economic development.

"Statistics indicate that domestic tourism is still low. I hope with a new campaign, domestic tourism will grow. Let us all be committed, encourage the youth and other people to visit the country's tourist destinations," the Zanzibar deputy Speaker said.

"We should not leave tourism to foreigners and that is wrong to think that tourism was only for visitors," she said.

According to him, the campaign is in line with the Zanzibar government's target of receiving 500,000 tourists next year.

For the Indian Ocean archipelago, he said tourism alone could help boost national coffers as well as create job opportunities for islanders and address poverty.

Zanzibar is famous for its spices and the slave trade in the 19th century, to the extent that the Stone Town of Zanzibar is named as UNESCO World Heritage site.

Khadija Bakar, Permanent Secretary in the Zanzibar's Ministry of Information, Tourism, and Antiquities also encouraged more visitors to come and enjoy Zanzibar's natural beauty including beaches coupled with prevailing peace.

She named some of the beautiful beaches in Zanzibar as Nungwi, Kendwa, Matemwe, Kiwengwa and Pongwe, Kizimkazi, Bwejuu, and Dongwe.

Local tourism has generated some 22,000 jobs, benefiting farmers, fishermen and livestock keepers. Enditem

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