ARUSHA, Tanzania, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's semi-autonomous Zanzibar archipelago and South Africa on Tuesday agreed to enhance cooperation in the tourism industry in an effort to increase tourist arrivals between the two countries.

The agreement was reached when the South Africa ambassador in Tanzania, Thami Mseleku visited the Zanzibar Minister for Information, Tourism and Archives, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo.

The two officials said that the plan will be succeeded by establishing a strategic joint forum which will focus on enhancing the sector.

"The forum should involve ministries and private sector institutions working in the tourism sector. I am sure if we work hard our objectives will be achieved," Kombo said.

He advised the South African envoy to work on the possibility of the Mango Airlines from South Africa to increase its direct flights to the Isles, so as to bring move visitors and tourists.

"Mango is currently the only airline offering direct flights from Johannesburg, South Africa to Zanzibar. In 2018, the airline brought 22,903 visitors from South Africa and we hope the number to rise this year," he said

He also welcomed investors from South Africa to come and explore investment opportunities in the tourism, agribusiness, processing sectors.

For his part, ambassador Mseleku vowed that he will make well use of his stay in Tanzania by marketing it so as to bringing more investors in various sectors.