Travelers must pay the fee regardless of whether they have insurance
Starting September 1, passengers traveling to Zanzibar for an idyllic vacation in the Indian Ocean will have to pay an additional $44 per person upon arrival for mandatory insurance initiated by the Government of Zanzibar. Marian Sandu, Director of AfricaStay, a tour operator specializing in Zanzibar packages (including charter flights) For the South African market, he said it would be especially expensive for families with children. “Families with two children will now have to pay about $176 upon arrival. We are all disappointed. I don’t think that’s right.” Sandu added that clear procedures for the scheme have not yet been made public, and the new regulation is facing resistance from local and international stakeholders who hope to delay its implementation. The Tanzanian authorities announced that the mandatory fee will apply to tourists staying on the island for up to 92 days. “The insurance will cover various aspects that were previously problematic for visitors, such as health, loss of luggage, accidents, emergency evacuation, loss of passports and even repatriation of remains in case of death,” said Dr. Saada Mkuya Salum, Minister of Finance and Planning. The insurance will be provided by Zanzibar Insurance Corporation, a state-owned company. Travelers must pay the fee regardless of whether they have received travel insurance elsewhere or not. “We have good, comprehensive travel insurance products here (in South Africa) for a fraction of the price,” Sandu said. According to the African Travel and Tourism Association, the Zanzibar government said it was still finalizing procedures, but said insurance could be obtained online and paid in advance.According to the Tanzanian press, local hoteliers and entry operators in Zanzibar have expressed concerns that the mandatory insurance fee will significantly reduce the competitiveness of the island.
