Drivers of Tourism in Zanzibar

Abstract

Understanding drivers of tourism is important in transforming actors’ perceptions and ultimately the industry for sustainability. Motives, historical forces shaping tourism policy, legislations and their actual implementations is less researched. This paper exposes drivers of tourism in Zanzibar. It explains how the contested natural, cultural heritage, revolutionary regime, neoliberal structural adjustment, legislations and policy changes in the archipelago shape our understanding of tourism theory and practices overtime and space. It is generally founded that enduring political instability, conflicting institutional power struggles and variable interests have created unique unsustainable tourism practices and trends in the island. Overall, the paper contributes to an understanding of the use of post structural critical theory and political ecology approach in rethinking the future of tourism policy and legislations with references to island destinations in developing economies.