Zanzibar has announced the setting up of East Africa’s first 7-star luxury hotel, to be built on Pemba, a tiny island.

In its march towards becoming a premium luxury tourism destination in the region, the tropical island of Zanzibar in Tanzania has announced the setting up of the first seven-star hotel in East Africa.

According to news reports, the construction of the seven star hotel forms part of a wider move by the government to strengthen tourism, its core sector. The Montuli, as the hotel will be called, will be constructed on the tiny island of Pemba.

Executive Director of Zanzibar Investment Authority, Sharif Ali Sharif revealed the ambitious project while inaugurating another resort in the region.

“We have many exciting developments on the horizon, but one in particular stands out: the arrival on Pemba Island of East Africa’s first-ever seven-star hotel. Let us congratulate President Hussein Mwinyi on his visionary leadership in making this happen,” said Sharif.

He also announced the establishment of a 2500-capacity conference centre in the Fumba Free Economic Zone, as well as the construction of a few stadiums with popular athletes as stakeholders, during the ceremony.

He added that ZIPA has been responsible for the creation of 17,000 jobs over the last three years, as part of a USD 4.5 billion investment portfolio that includes 296 projects, of which 112 are aimed towards the country’s tourism industry.