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Exotic winter sun island set to be next top holiday destination introduces new entry fee for all tourists
We explain everything you need to know about the island
HOLIDAYMAKERS heading to Zanzibar will need to pay a new insurance fee to visit the exotic island.
Holidaymakers travelling to Zanzibar will be required to pay a $44 (£34) insurance fee from September 1, 2024.
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According to Zanzibar’s Minister of Finance and Planning, , the mandatory fee will provide visitors coverage for up 92 days during their stay on the island.
The package has been designed to give holidaymakers peace of mind, as it provides tourists protection against a number of risks.
For example, holidaymakers will be given Health Protection for any health-related issues that may arise during their trip.
Visitors will also be insured against lost baggage, passport loss, accidents and emergency evacuations.
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Because of its benefit to holidaymakers, it is hoped that the number of tourists will increase.
Why Zanzibar?
Zanzibar, an island off the coast of Tanzania in Africa, is set to be the hottest new destination.
Often likened to the Maldives, Zanzibar has already won favour with travel experts and holidaymakers alike.
Jaymin Borkhatria, chief commercial officer at told Sun Online Travel: "Zanzibar is an untapped destination for those looking for an authentic Indian Ocean getaway."
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It’s also famous as the birthplace of Queen frontman, Freddie Mercury.
Cheap deals can be found for less than £1,000 per person, which includes seven nights and return flights too.
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What is Zanzibar like?
It is an ideal summer holiday destination, with the best weather between June and October and temperatures as high as 34C, although remains around 30C all year round even in the winter months.
Zanzibar is known for its amazing food, called the Spice Island because of influences from both India and Africa.
A popular tourist attraction is The Rock restaurant, a tiny restaurant on a rock off the shore of Pingwe Beach.
Local booze is cheap too, with beers for as little as £1 for a 500ml bottle in some bars.
Holidaymakers can often head to Stone Town, a UNESCO heritage site, which has tiny winding streets to explore with Indian, Arab and European influences.
However, most tourists head straight to the beaches on the island, which are comparable to the Maldives.
Matemwe is the longest beach, and is popular with kite-surfers and divers, while Nungwi Beach in the northwest is one of the most famous with white sands and bright blue waters.
What else do I need to know about Zanzibar?
The official languages are KiSwahili and English, but most tourist resorts will speak English.
The local currency is the Tanzania shilling (TSh) with £10 being around TSh29,102.
Most hotels will accept US dollars or Tanzanian shillings, and some hotels will take credit cards but there are few ATMs so should take out enough money before your trip.
While bikinis and shorts and are fine at most resorts, it is a Muslim country so you should cover your knees and shoulders when travelling around.
Your passport needs to be valid for 6 months from the date you arrive.
You must also get a tourist visa which can be applied for online, and cost around £40 per person.
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What is a tourist tax?
Source; commonslibrary.parliament.uk
- A ‘tourist tax’ – also known as a ‘transient visitor levy’ – is a fee applied to short-stay accommodation.
- They are often imposed in cities with strong tourist economies, in countries such as Canada, Spain, Germany, Belgium and France.
- A tourist tax normally takes the form of a charge per occupied bed or room per night, within short-term accommodation providers.
- The charge can be set at a flat rate or a series of flat rates (for example, €2 per bed per night), or it can be set as a percentage of the price of the bed or room.
- Tourist taxes are sometimes set at different rates for different times of the year.
- Some cities exempt, or give discounts for beds occupied by children or those travelling for medical reasons.
- Others impose different rates on campsites, bed and breakfasts, non-serviced accommodation, or hotels with different star ratings.
The tourist tax is also being imposed in the city of Portimão on Portugal's Algarve coast.
Portimão's Mayor Isilda Gomes said the tourist tax could raise "a few million euros" for the city.
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