DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 5 -- Tanzania's Zanzibar is hosting a travel exhibition next week aimed at promoting eco-tourism, an official has said.

The theme of the Feb. 9-11 Zanzibar Tourism Investment and Travel Exhibition (ZTITE) 2023 is "Greener Zanzibar," said Rahim Bhaloo, chairperson of the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism, which organizes the event.

"Preparations for the exhibition are in full swing," Bhaloo told Xinhua in a telephone interview on Saturday, adding that the show will be opened by Tanzania's Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi at the Mnazimmoja grounds on Unguja Island.

The three-day event will also include a travel buyers lounge, a tourism investment forum, workshops, and panel discussions, he said.

"The goal for ZTITE 2023 is to promote eco-tourism by effectively managing and conserving Zanzibar's cultural, environmental and historical resources," Bhaloo said.

He said the theme, "Greener Zanzibar," calls for tourism that involves strategic investments, sustainable business practices and responsible travel choices.

"Zanzibar is one of the world's trending destinations with immense potential for development across the tourism value chain," Bhaloo said.

"We believe the future of Zanzibar's tourism sector lies in the investment in its people and its natural environment," he said. "With a rich heritage and an abundance of flora and fauna, Zanzibar is an ideal destination for eco-tourism, heritage tourism, wellness tourism, sports and adventure tourism, and gastronomic tourism."

  - Xinhua