Excerpt and Photo from thecitizen.co.tz
Located in the western Indian Ocean and overshadowed by the reputation of Zanzibar, the Mafia Archipelago remains little-visited, its natural resources and culture unspoiled.
These ‘hidden’ islands have much potential to be one of Tanzania’s leading eco-tourism destinations.
I sat down with Mr Peter Byrne, an economist who, 30 years ago, began creating Kinasi Lodge as an ‘island life’ destination at the beginning of Tanzania’s tourism renaissance. Optimism and imagination ruled over being a ‘good investment’ as the number of visitors slowly grew and challenges presented themselves—building on an island with only dhow transport and fluctuations in tourism source markets emerged.
But today, he is as determined as ever that, with the archipelago’s unique natural attractions, it has so much to offer Tanzania’s tourism.
“I first went to Mafia in 1984 and worked there between 1986 and 1987 for a company that had coconut plantations and various other businesses,” Peter said when explaining his background.