Sauti za Busara is Backing Business to Boost Cultural Tourism

PRESS RELEASE

3 FEBRUARY 2017 – STONE TOWN, ZANZIBAR: Next Thursday on the 9^th of February Sauti za Busara 2017 festival will kick-off in Stone Town, Zanzibar and the local tourism industry can breathe a sigh of relief. After a year-long hiatus, Sauti za Busara is back to business promoting local culture, building technical capacities and boosting the local economy with employment and training for East Africans.

More than just a festival, Sauti za Busara has generated over 70 million USD in revenue for Zanzibar since it began in 2004. Every year, the small team of ten expands to 150 crew members directly employed in the festival, always prioritizing local people for crucial roles in Artists Management, Administration, Press Relations, Tickets and Merchandise, Venue & Technical and Security.

A focus on training and skills-building enhances Busara’s sustainability while increasing economic impact for the local community. In 2016, Busara Promotions hosted training programs in stage management, sound engineering, stage lighting, press and marketing skills. In partnership with festivals such as Bushfire in Swaziland and Oya Festival in Norway, the Busara team benefited from hands-on learning experiences by joining other festival crews, where skills, knowledge and contacts are shared across borders.

Sauti za Busara has helped put Zanzibar on the cultural tourism map as a premiere destination that goes beyond the ‘sun & sand’ cliché. Trish Dhanak, owner of Upendo hotel and restaurant explains, “As a business investor, it’s our job to show travellers the best of Zanzibar, to learn about the island’s deep cultural roots. Sauti za Busara is a vital link to travellers from around the world and mainland Africa -- it’s the music that brings them to Zanzibar and while they’re here, we hope they’ll discover a plethora of reasons to return.”

February is now the highest month in the year for arrivals to Zanzibar with over 40,000 visitors. At this time, local flights and ferries are full; hotels and restaurants are abuzz with festival energy.

As the festival continues to grow and attract more international visitors every year, keeping it accessible to local and regional guests is a priority for Busara. This year, the four-day Festival Pass for Tanzanians is only 20,000 TZS or 6,000 TZS per day. African passport holders pay 120,000 TZS (60 USD) or 50,000 TZS per day (25 USD). Tickets will be available at the Old Fort starting Tuesday 7^th February, from 10:00am.

Zanzibar’s weather forecast predicts highs of 34 degrees Celsius with blue skies for everyone. Sauti za Busara, mentioned by CNN as one of 7 top African music festivals that are too good miss, will take place in Stone Town, Zanzibar during 9^th to 12^th February, 2017.

Sauti za Busara 2017 is generously powered by: Norwegian Embassy, Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation (SDC), ZANTEL, Africalia, Embassy of Germany, Zanlink, Memories of Zanzibar, Ethiopian Airlines, Mozeti, Coastal Aviation, Ikala Zanzibar Stone Town Lodge, Music in Africa, Chuchu FM Radio, Tifu TV and Zanzibar Media Corporation.

Busara Promotions, P O Box 3635, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Tel: +255 24 223 2423 or +255 773 822 294

www.busaramusic.org   |   www.facebook.com/sautizabusara

Sauti za Busara festival: Zanzibar, 9 - 12 February 2017 is powered by:

Norwegian Embassy, Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation (SDC), ZANTEL, Africalia, Zanlink, Mozeti, Memories of Zanzibar, Ethiopian Airlines, Coastal Aviation, Ikala Zanzibar Stone Town Lodge, Embassy of Germany, Chuchu FM Radio

CNN: "7 African music festivals you really have to see"

BBC:  “one of Africa's best and most respected music events”