Dissertation (MA International Relations)This study was conducted in Zanzibar and focused on the Commission for Tourism (ZCT). The objective of the study was to examine the contribution of ZCT to the development of tourism in Zanzibar. Primary and secondary data were collected using quantitative and qualitative methodology. Specific objectives included providing an overview of the state of tourism in Zanzibar, and to examine the role of The Zanzibar Commission for Tourism in the development of the tourist sector in Zanzibar. Finally the study sought to explore the impact of existing strategies and policies being employed by the Zanzibar Commission of Tourism in the development of the tourist sector in Zanzibar. SPSS and Microsoft excel were used in data analysis and presentation. A total number of 65 respondents were involved in the study. The methods used in data collection were interview, questionnaires and a documentary review. The findings of the study revealed that the development of tourism in Zanzibar was still at an early stage unlike the surrounding islands in the Indian Ocean. The study revealed that the Zanzibar Commission of Tourism faced many challenges in the development of tourism such as lack of human resources and lack of fund to deal with the marketing of the island to tourists and lack of physical resources. Field results further indicated that despite these challenges the ZCT has played an important role in the development of tourism and raising the income of the people and also in providing education and skills to the locals The study recommends that the ZCT should involve the local people in the tourism industry not in the low positions. Also in the high ranking positions also the Government should put more effort into the implementation of tourism policies and regulations so as to be able to compete with the other tourist destinations around the Indian Ocean.