President of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, has awarded a certificate of appreciation to the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) for its outstanding participation in the 9th Kizimkazi Festival, held in Southern Unguja, Zanzibar, from August 18-25, 2024.
The certificate was received by TFS officials, including Conservation Commissioner Prof. Dos Santos Silayo, Tree Seed Production Commissioner Caroline Malundo, and Communications Manager Johary Kachwamba, during a dinner ceremony at the Kizimkazi State Lodge.
At the festival, TFS introduced a new form of tourism called Api-tourism (Bee Tourism), which attracted significant attention. Visitors had the chance to observe and participate in bee-related activities, including a unique experience of being stung by bees, a new feature compared to previous festivals.
The Bee Tourism initiative sparked interest and drew many visitors to the TFS booth within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism's pavilion.
Festival attendees praised TFS for its innovative approach to promoting sustainable and unique tourism through Tanzania's natural resources.
“In addition to the Bee Tourism experience, the public was educated on value-added bee products such as honey, pollen, honey-coated peanuts, and royal jelly, which are used as medicine and nutritional supplements,” said Kachwamba.
The Kizimkazi Festival remains a key event for showcasing cultural and natural heritage while promoting innovation and sustainable tourism in Tanzania.