Chumbe Island issues guidelines to reduce single-use plastics in Zanzibar's tourism industry.
- Aug 31
- 2 min read
Chumbe Island has launched the "REDUCE Guidelines: Reducing Single-Use Plastics in Zanzibar’s Tourism Industry".
Developed by Blue Impact Network in partnership with Chumbe Island Coral Park and the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism, with support from the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) under the Western Indian Ocean Governance Initiative (WIOGI), these guidelines provide practical, evidence-based solutions to help tourism businesses reduce single-use plastics and transition towards more circular operations.
Whether you’re a hotel, restaurant, tour operator or tourism supplier, the REDUCE Guidelines offer practical tools to rethink procurement, eliminate unnecessary plastics, engage suppliers, and adopt reusable systems – without compromising the guest experience.
By working together, they believe they can strengthen Zanzibar’s tourism industry while protecting the natural environment that makes the islands so unique.
"Together, we can build a tourism sector that is cleaner, more resilient, and more competitive—ensuring that Zanzibar remains a world-class island destination where communities thrive, nature flourishes, and visitors leave inspired" . says Arif Abbas Manji - Executive Secretary Zanzibar Commission for Tourism
Zanzibar’s extraordinary natural environment is the foundation upon which the tourism industry is built. Its coral reefs, forests, beaches and rich cultural heritage attract visitors from around the world, while also sustaining the livelihoods and wellbeing of local communities. Protecting these assets is therefore not simply an environmental responsibility—it is essential to the long-term success and resilience of the tourism sector.
For more than thirty years, Chumbe Island Coral Park has demonstrated that world-class tourism and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand. Our experience has shown that reducing waste, rethinking procurement, and embracing circular approaches not only lessens environmental impacts but also strengthens operational efficiency, enhancing guest satisfaction, and creating a more authentic and distinctive visitor experience.
The REDUCE Guidelines build upon this practical experience and combine it with research, stakeholder engagement, and lessons from tourism operators across Zanzibar.
Rather than prescribing one-size-fits-all solutions, these Guidelines provide realistic, evidence-based guidance that can be adapted by tourism businesses of every size and type. They show that meaningful reductions in single-use plastics are both achievable and commercially sensible.
"I encourage all tourism stakeholders to embrace these guidelines and become part of a growing movement that is redefining hospitality in Zanzibar—one that delivers exceptional guest experiences while safeguarding the remarkable natural heritage upon which our shared future depends" says Eleanor Carter Co-Director, Chumbe Island
Zanzibar’s hospitality sector is at the heart of both the archipelago’s economic success and one of its most urgent environmental challenges. Tourism creates jobs, brings foreign exchange, and attracts investment.
More than 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced each year (UNEP, 2023), yet only a small amount is effectively recycled (OECD, 2022). Much of the rest ends up in landfills, is burned, or enters into the environment.
A simple rule can guide purchasing decisions: Reduce what is unnecessary → Replace harmful plastics → Reuse durable materials→ Redesign systems to avoid single-use dependence
To read the guidelines in full, see the pdf here >>>
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