Paper short abstract:

This paper will seek to understand the relationship between native inhabitants of Zanzibar and migrant workers from mainland Tanzania, which are competitors in the tourism job market of the island.

Paper long abstract:

Zanzibar has opened up to international tourism during the 1980s, and the industry has been growing since then. The surge in the tourist business - strongly influenced by foreign investment - has had relevant impact on the island. Although it had some positive outcomes at local level - most notably the improvement in infrastructure - it is also to be noted that it has also had negative effects, such as in terms of environmental degradation. Even the impact of the tourism-led growth on the Zanzibari job market is debatable.

Tourism has understandably created new employment opportunities, which however have only in part benefited the local - Zanzibari - community. In turn, it has promoted considerable migration of workers from mainland Tanzania. These migrants are often met with hostility from the local population. It should be also noted that pro-independence movements in Zanzibar are as old as the Union with Tanzania.

The proposed paper will seek to understand the "rivalcy" between local and migrant workers in the tourism sector. The research - currently ongoing - takes into consideration the perspective of managers and entrepreneurs in the tourism sector, trying to understand the reasons behind the frequently observed preference given to migrant workers over the local ones. Can this be explained with better education and training? Do cultural and religious issues - being mainland Tanzanian mostly Christians and Zanzibaris muslim - play a role?