Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

Consideration of the marine and maritime dimensions of Zanzibar's history and culture, broader tourism opportunities and major education projects were among the expanded development initiatives agreed by His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismaili Muslims during a three-day visit to Tanzania.

Your Excellency President Mkapa
Your Excellency President Amour
Your Excellency the Chief Minister
Honourable Ministers
Excellencies
Distinguished Guests

Your Excellency President Benjamin William Mkapa
Your Excellency President Salmin Amour
Your Highness (glancing towards Hazar Imam)
Your Excellencies
Honorable Ministers
Distinguished Guests

As Chairman of Tourism Promotion Services Zanzibar, the owner of Zanzibar Serena Inn, it is both an honour and a pleasure to welcome you here today for the official opening of the fifth Serena property in the United Republic to begin operations within the past twelve months.

Your Excellency President William Mkapa,
Your Excellency President Salmin Amour,
Honourable Ministers,
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests

A fifth unit in the Serena hotels chain will be opened in Zanzibar this Saturday by His Highness The Aga Khan who is expected to arrived in Dar es Salaam at the weekend, according to confirmed sources.

The 39m dollar of investment follows the opening of three other tourist lodges in the northern tourist circuit and a luxury tented camp.

The 52 room Inn is located in the heart of Zanzibar's historic Stone Town. Two historical buildings were renovated for the purpose, through the Aga Khan Fund for Culture.

Serena Hotels, South Africa's Stocks and Resorts Hotel, and Gibraltar-based Feram Holdings are the three companies short-listed for the acquisition of a 75 per cent stake in the government-owned Kilimanjaro Hotel in Dar es salaam.

The Nairobi based Serena Group of Hotels, which submitted its bid last year after the government announced its plans to sel some of its shares in the hotel, and Stocks and Resorts Hotel are the only companies from the COMESA region to show interest in the venture, while Feram Holdings is the only firm from outside Africa to put in a bid.

"Investment in historic cities can be a productive development investment, meeting practical needs, releasing creative energies and providing sources of social cohesion - not an unproductive investment in stagnating, barren environments."

Speaking at the inauguration of a 100-year old building, newly restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, the Aga Khan drew attention to "the emerging understanding of the importance of culture as a critical element in development strategies in general, and for efforts to revitalise the historic cores of the world's towns and cities in particular."

"Understanding of the importance of culture is slowly emerging as a critical element in development strategies in general", the leader of the world's Ismaili community said in Zanzibar yesterday.

His Highness the Aga Khan made the observation at the inauguration of a 100 year old building, newly restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.

He stated that culture was also crucial for efforts to revitalise the historic cores of the world's towns and cities.

President Benjamin Mkapa and the Shia Ismaili Muslim spiritual leader, Prince Aga Khan, yesterday visited the health professions development centre of the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam.

At the Centre, President Mkapa and The Aga Khan were shown various diagnostic facilities for critical areas of need such as cardiac care.

The enhancement of the Aga Khan Hospital's facilities is part of the Aga Khan Health Service (AKHS) programme of creating a regional health system across East Africa to ensure improved and high quality services.

The Spiritual Leader of Shia Ismaili Community, Prince Aga Khan yesterday described the Zanzibar Serena Inn as a path-breaker project which will boost tourism industry in the isles.

Speaking at the official opening of the Zanzibar Serena Inn, He said the project would play a vital role in the re-awakening economic and social status of Zanzibar.

He said at the function which was also attended by President Benjamin Mkapa and Zanzibar President Dr. Salmim Amour that the project was significant to Zanzibar's economic benefits.

The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Moslems, opened a $7 million hotel on the island of Zanzibar at the weekend -- an investment welcomed by Tanzania as a boost to its tourist trade.

The 52-room hotel, in a historic seafront building which once housed the British consulate when Zanzibar was ruled by an Arab sultan, is the latest project of the Aga Khan's Serena group, which has built a chain of hotels in East Africa.

The Forodhani Park was inaugurated in July 2009.

Prince Rahim, Prince Hussain and Princess Khaliya [Left photo] and Prince Amyn Mohammad, joined H.H. The Aga Khan and President Amani Karume at the opening of the Forodhani Park.