Still great value, despite VAT
SINCE July 1,
visitors to Zanzibar
have been paying
18% VAT on a number
of tourism services
as levied by the
Tanzanian government.
Accommodation,
however, is exempt from
the tax.
At present, services
liable for VAT include
park fees, ground
transport, tour guiding,
game drives and water
safaris.
The VAT, at this stage,
will not be added to the
actual accommodation
portion of the traveller’s holiday, where
the bulk of the spend generally lies,
but of course will affect the additional
excursions on offer, says Alexis
Bekker, director of Brandom, which
represents the hotel group Emerald
Collection in South Africa.
She says travel from South Africa
is operating in an extremely pricesensitive
market at present, so any
increases naturally scare the industry
and the consumer. “However, we
don’t believe that these increases will
have too much of an impact on the
business.
“Zanzibar is a firm island favourite at
present and the demand seems to be
increasing daily – we believe this will
continue. The hotels and airlines are
committed to delivering great value for
money and will continue to impress
travellers with the offers,” she says.
The tax “will have a minor negative
impact on our package prices, but
Zanzibar still remains excellent value
for money,” says Thompsons Holidays’
pr and media manager, John Ridler.
Similarly, Hein Kaiser, spokesperson
for low-cost airline, Mango, says: “In
terms of selling flights,
the impact of the 18%
VAT is minimal and
will only affect ground
handling. Zanzibar will
still remain extremely
competitive.”
Recently quoted in
East African Business
Week, Tanzanian
Finance and Planning
Minister, Dr Philip
Mpango, said the 18%
charge on tourism
services was initiated
after thorough research.
He said the proposal
had been developed
after the ministry
became convinced that VAT charges
were not a major factor affecting
tourists’ decisions regarding the
destination.
Zanzibar’s appeal for South Africans,
however, is strongly tied to its
affordability and, should it become too
expensive, this could be detrimental
to the market.
A rise in costs could also negatively
affect the island’s tourism industry,
with South Africa accounting for 10%
of the inbound market, says Hein.
Value across categories
For the moment, Zanzibar continues
to represent value for money and,
as John indicates, with six-night flyin
packages starting from R9 100
at an appealing four-star hotel on a
superb beach with half board and
nightly entertainment, prices are hard
to beat.
Through all categories of
accommodation, value remains good.
According to Hein, Zanzibar is one
of the few island destinations that
offers a wide range of options, from
one-star backpackers’ facilities to
five-star-plus hotels. “To the north of
the island at Nungwi, accommodation
is at a premium but there are some
exceptional three-star resorts like
Coral Rock Hotel, and the Amaan
Bungalows.
“Even at the top end, the five-star
Gold Zanzibar Beach House and Spa
Resort offers amazing value and the
Sea Cliff Resort and Spa with golf
course has excellent rates.
“Zanzibar is affordable, full stop,”
says Hein.
Alexis points out that five-star hotels
offer four-star rates, and this pricing
is likely to continue while the supply
meets demand.
Further, Emerald Collection’s Dream
of Zanzibar and Hideaway of Nungwi,
operate on an all-inclusive basis, with
the attractions of no hidden costs
or nasty surprises on the final bill.
Both establishments offer a variety of
dining options.
Alexis says all-inclusive options
can prove more cost-effective than
cheaper hotels, where guests
may land up paying more with the
additional spend.
Hein notes two periods in the year
when value is at its peak. Between
April and June the island experiences
its monsoon season, when tourism
services are more affordable; as it
generally does not rain all day, a good
beach holiday is still possible.
Money can also be saved in October
and November when the European
holiday season has dwindled and the
weather is not at its hottest.
Alexis suggests considering all
the costs when doing research.
“Remember that Zanzibar is not
commercialised and therein lies the
appeal, but you do want to be sure
of certain comforts on holiday, so be
certain to check what is on offer at
the resort to avoid disappointment.”
Aesy access from SA
PART of Zanzibar’s appeal
is the ease of travel to the
destination. “Zanzibar is
regarded as cost-effective and
totally safe destination,” says
Geraldine Boshoff, marketing
manager at Sure Travel’s head
office in Cape Town, pointing
out that South Africans do not
need visas for entry.
Travel agents can advise
clients that this exotic
destination offers beautiful
beaches, warm seas, safe
swimming and interesting
history. “If you are not bound
by school holidays the cost will
be very favourable, especially
if you avoid the European high
seasons,” she says.
Geraldine advises consultants
to ensure that transfer
companies are professional,
reliable and have proper
insurance in place. “Do not
travel without travel insurance,”
she cautions.
She also advises pre-booking
a few of the great selection of
day excursions.
Useful info for your travellers
ZANZIBAR is a cluster of small
islands, 40km off the coast
of Tanzania. The archipelago
comprises two main islands
– Unguja or Zanzibar Island,
and Pemba – and a number
of smaller islets and atolls.
Zanzibar City is the capital
and at its heart is historic
Stone Town, a Unesco World
Heritage Site.
Best time to travel: June to
September are dry and cool.
From December to February it
is hot and dry. Best months
for scuba diving are July,
August, February and March.
Diving off the north coast is
good from June to October
and off the south coast from
November to March.
Air connections: Mango flies
to Zanzibar on Tuesdays and
Saturdays and adds flights in
the December high season.
In July, fastjet updated
its flight schedule between
Johannesburg and Dar es
Salaam and introduced direct,
non-stop flights between
Johannesburg and Zanzibar.
The airline offers twiceweekly
direct, non-stop flights
from Johannesburg, with
flights departing OR Tambo
at 11h30 on Mondays and at
12h10 on Fridays, arriving in
Zanzibar at 16h05 and 16h45
respectively.
Return direct, non-stop
flights depart at 08h50 on
Wednesdays and Sundays,
arriving in Johannesburg at
11h35.
Fastjet also operates four
return flights a week to Dar es
Salaam, departing OR Tambo
at 11h30 on Mondays, 12h20
on Wednesdays and Sundays,
and at 12h10 on Fridays.
Return flights from Dar es
Salaam to Johannesburg
depart at 08h05 on Mondays,
07h50 on Wednesdays and
Sundays, and at 08h45 on
Fridays.
SAA also flies daily to Dar
es Salaam and passengers
can transfer to the island via
air or by ferry, which takes
up to two hours. It should be
borne in mind that the journey
from airport to ferry port can
also take a couple of hours,
depending on traffic.
Dress: There is a largely
Muslim community and
visitors should be sensitive
to locations where modest
dress is required and where
drinking alcohol would be
discourteous.
Currency: The Tanzanian
shilling (TZS)). Travellers are
advised to take US dollars.
There are ATMs in Stone
Town. Credit cards can be
used in hotels.
Must-do excursions: Tour
to a spice farm; Stone
Town and Prison Island
tour; snorkelling trip; scuba
diving; visit to the Seaweed
Centre (seaweed products
are major exports); dhow
cruise; Jozani Forest nature
trail; swim with dolphins at
Kizimkazi; Forodhani Night
Market.
Time: GMT+3
Language: Swahili, but
English is spoken in tourist
attractions and resorts.
Some great deals on offer
Thompsons is offering an
all-inclusive fly-in package
at Double Tree by Hilton
Nungwi, until December
21, from R13 050
per person, including
all meals, high tea and
selected drinks.
Emerald Collection has
a honeymoon offer of a
10% discount for all dates
of travel until December
20, which includes a
30-minute massage
for two, sparkling wine,
romantic dinner and
room upgrade, subject to
availability. It is valid for
both Hideaway of Nungwi
and Dream of Zanzibar.
With Zanzibar being very
much a package market,
Mango issues specials
regularly. According to
Hein Kaiser, this can be
as often as at fortnightly
intervals. Keep an eye out
for these.
Checkout Tours has a
special at the four-star
My Blue Hotel between
September 1 and
October 31. R14 075pps
gets the client return
economy airfares from
Johannesburg, seven
nights’ accommodation,
transfers, airport taxes,
three meals daily and
selected drinks. A second
special at the three-star
Coral Rock at R9 510pp
between September 1 and
November 30, buys the
same, but meals include
breakfast only.
Over the festive season,
The Holiday Factory is
offering an all-inclusive
seven-night package from
R18 535pps at the fourstar
Azao. Included are
return flights departing
Johannesburg, airport
taxes and transfers.
AfricaStay has a number
of four- and seven-night
specials with varying
validities from now until
December 20. Prices
start from R8 445pps
up to R20 825pps.
Return flight departing
Johannesburg, airport
taxes and meals on an
all-inclusive basis are
included. Resorts include
Reed & Beach, Paradise
Beach, Uroa Bay Beach
Resort, My Blue Hotel,
Doubletree by Hilton
Nungwi, Mapenzi Beach
Club, La Gemma Dell’est,
Hideaway of Nungwi and
Azanzi. High season
supplements may apply.
Falcon Africa Safaris
is running a five-night
special from September
1-December 20 from
R11 900pps for five nights
on a half-board basis and
from R16 900 on a fully
inclusive basis.
