- A new luxury hotel brand has been unveiled in Bawe Island.
- President Mwinyi warns possible revocation of licenses for delayed projects.
- Zanzibar has leased out 15 islets for luxury hotel projects, more than 30 others available.
Zanzibar Bawe Island Resort has been inaugurated, making it the first of more than 15 small islets that have been leased for investment in the tourism and hospitality sector. This first small island, known as Bawe, has been developed into a $42 million luxurious tourist destination, an investment by Cocoon Collection Company.
Zanzibar Bawe Island Resort was launched as part of celebrations to commemorate the Zanzibar Revolution Day and was attended by several dignitaries including the President Samia Suluhu Hassan. President Samia was the guest of honour and expressed her satisfaction with the inaugurated five-star international tourist hotel.
She commended the investors Cocoon Collection Company, and hailed the overall progress of development in Zanzibar’s tourism and hospitality sector. “This achievement is a reflection of the dedication of past revolutionary leaders and the Zanzibar Revolutionary Government’s efforts to drive development on these islands,” the president said, herself been a native of the island.
“This project has created 400 jobs for Tanzanians during its construction and operation phases. Additionally, it will enhance Zanzibar’s global reputation and contribute to government revenues,” the president pointed out.
Notably, this latest project is the company’s third investment in Zanzibar a fact that the president said goes to demonstrate investor confidence in the country’s governance and business environment.
“Zanzibar has undergone significant changes, with construction projects emerging across the island, showing positive development,” the president went on to say.
The leasing of small islands in Unguja and Pemba is meant to boost the tourism sector and utilize the otherwise idle resources as assets.
The president went on to highlight the government’s broader plans to invest in port infrastructure that will compliment development of the tourism and hospitality sectors as well.
The ports due for construction or already underway include Shumba Mjini Port, the construction of Wete Port in Pemba, and the development of Kizimkazi Port.
In her comments, Cocoon Collection investor Andrea Azzola said the Bawe Island project is unique and bound to attract tourist from all over the world; “Investing in Bawe, one of the best islands in the world, is a privilege. Its name alone holds a unique charm.”
Notably, Cocoon Collection owns two other investments in Zanzibar, these been one in Pongwe Island and another called The Gold Zanzibar, and with addition of Bawe Island, the company owns a total of three luxury brand investments in Zanzibar.
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Zanzibar Bawe Island
The Cocoon Collection Bawe island investment is only a 15 minutes ride by speed boat from the capital Stone Town.
Named after the island itself, Bawe Island is an exclusive 5 five-star resort conceived to be “the new essence of Zanzibar.”
In its description of the investment, Cocoon Collection describes the island to be over 30 hectares, and boasts 70 exclusive villas within its lush and wild nature, all equipped with private pools and butler services.
It has wide spaces available for all guests and a landing platform for helicopters, which easily connects Bawe Island with the most prestigious lodges across Tanzania.
As a luxurious water getaway, Andrea Azzola says, Bawe Island is branded as “the island within the island” a concept which guarantees the maximum privacy and exclusivity, but at the same time conveniently located in front of Zanzibar to enjoy and discover all the main attractions and surprising local excursions.
The destination has only 70 suite and villas spread out on over 30 hectares of island and all intertwined with four restaurants giving the guests a most memorable ‘Dine Around’ experience.
In her description of the company, Azzola describes Cocoon Collection as a new luxury brand that gathers forty years of life, work and passion of the Azzola family in the Indian Ocean.
This family business dates back to 1980 when the first Cocoon Collection resort was created by Enzo and Maria Rosaria in Sri Lanka. From then, the brand now boasts six hotels founded between Zanzibar, Maldives by Attilio, Alessandro and Andrea Azzola.
The company contnued to expand and opened a tour operator firm known as Azemar, founded and developed by Maria Rosaria, who distinguishes herself as the main female entrepreneur in the Italian tourism industry.
Andrea Azzola, who was present at the most recent launch in Zanzibar the Bawe Island brand, describes their brands as; “Unique locations, contemporary design, informal but elegant hospitality and gourmet cuisine come together to create products deeply rooted in the local culture and natural beauty.”
“The Cocoon Collection philosophy aims to reconnect man to the earth, to gestures and smiles of different cultures that turn in long lasting memories,” she said.
Summing up, the investor says; “Since the very beginning of our story we got deeply involved in the local communities that welcomed us on their territory. The final stage has been the creation of the Sofia Luna Azzola Foundation in Zanzibar, a non-profit organization founded in 2016 with the aim of providing different opportunities to improve the life of the local communities and support other realities of discomfort on the island.”
Zanzibar urges investors to meet deadlines
Also present at the Bawe Island five-star hotel launch was Zanzibar’s President, Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, who also commended the investment but was also keen to caution other investors who have leased out islands but have not started their projects.
“I want to make it clear today: those who have delayed construction on leased islands have three months to begin. If they fail, the government will repossess the islands and reassign them to capable investors,” Dr. Mwinyi cautioned investors who have not yet started their projects.
That been said, the president went on to invite investors sayings investments like the Bawe Island project serve to support economic growth by increasing tourist arrivals, and creating job opportunities.
Seconding the president was, the Executive Director of the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA), Saleh Saad Mohamed, who said so far, Zanzibar has leased out 20 of 50 small islands that have been earmarked for development under the Zanzibar’s Blue Economy policy that was introduced three years ago.
That been said, the ZIPA Executive Director appealed to investors to take prompt action on projects that have already applied for and obtained licenses.
Overall, the government of Zanzibar has issued a three-month preliminary observation schedule for already licensed projects to begin implementation. The authorities specified that there are 15 issued islands that they expect to start implementation with the given time frame.
“Completing these projects will transform Zanzibar and catalyze use of the otherwise idle islands…these investments will also have positive impact on the surrounding communities,” the executive said.
The executive closed the remarks with a reminder to investors that short of starting their projects within the given timeframe, they risk revocation of their licenses.
