EFFORTS made by the Zanzibar government to boost tourism industry has started bearing fruit after the US-based Delaware Investment Ltd Company set to spend 60bn/- for the construction of a five-star hotel in the islands.

The move move is a response to Zanzibar President Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi's call to investors to come and invest in the tourism sector.

Rishen Patel, tour company's CEO unveiled this here yesterday, during the visit of journalists who visited the construction of the hotel located on the outskirts of Zanzibar city.

 He said that the good environment that the Zanzibar government has put in investment has attracted them to invest a large amount of money and that the construction of the hotel will not be the last because the capital they have will make them build and invest elsewhere in the country.

 "We've seen a good and friendly environment for investment and so I would like to assure the Zanzibar Investment Authority (ZIPA) that this will not be just one investment, as we are looking at other sectors that we will see fit and we will invest according to the needs" said Patel.

According to Patel, the hotel will have 74 rooms, including special rooms for senior leaders such as the President, and will also provide direct employment for 300 people, as well as other indirect jobs that are service providers of items that will be used of all time at the hotel.

Patel said that the hotel will be completed in May or June 2025 and if things go according to their expectations then they will ask President Mwinyi to open it as they are relieved by the great efforts that the Government continues to make by opening the doors of investment.

Contractor building the hotel, JHS Enterprises Ltd, through its Director Harbinder Singh Reehal, has said that despite the challenges of finding building materials in Zanzibar, the construction of the hotel will be completed as planned.

 "You know here in Zanzibar, sometimes the challenges of building materials become a problem, but you can order cement or mothballs and it will take you a month to get them, but they must be imported from mainland Tanzania and as you know, there are many projects being built here on the islands," said Singh.

 According to the Director, 70 percent of the construction has been completed and the remaining 30 percent will be completed by May or June 2025, then the construction will be complete despite the challenges of obtaining construction materials and the launch will take place as planned.