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

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.

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.

Tanzania plans to inject more resources into the tourism industry to ensure effective competition against other countries in attracting tourists, President Benjamin Mkapa said yesterday.

Opening the Zanzibar Serena Inn in the island, President Mkapa said his government, with the participation of donors, will strive to inject more resources into tourism supportive services, infrastructure and advertising.

"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."