IN a move to elevate its global tourism profile, Zanzibar will host a high-profile football match featuring international legends on July 27 at Amaan Complex.

The “Match of the Legends” will see former Brazilian football stars - led by the iconic Ronaldinho - face off against Zanzibar’s own football greats in a spectacle designed to promote the island as a premier destination for sports and leisure.
 
 Expected to draw around 18,000 spectators, the event forms part of a broader strategy to boost annual tourist arrivals from 700,000 to 1.5 million.
 
 Speaking at a press briefing, Zanzibar’s Minister for Tourism and Heritage, Mudrick Soraga, underscored the match’s significance in positioning the island on the global tourism map.
 
 “This initiative is more than just a game; it’s a global campaign to spotlight Zanzibar’s beauty, culture, and potential as a hub for major sporting events,” said Minister Soraga. “It also serves as a platform to unify stakeholders in our tourism sector.”
 
 The idea was inspired by President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s recent visit to Brazil, where she advocated for stronger tourism ties between the two nations.
 
 The match organizer - who also serves as the Honorary Consul of Brazil in Zanzibar - said the event is a direct outcome of that diplomatic engagement.
 
 Tourism remains a cornerstone of Zanzibar’s economy, currently contributing about 30 percent to the island’s GDP. The government aims to increase the sector’s direct contribution to 29 percent and total impact to over 50 percent of GDP by the end of 2025.