Alignment and Coherence of Tourism Related Policies to Policy Instruments on Sustainable Waste Management at Hotels in Zanzibar

This study investigates the alignment and coherence of four tourism-related policies in Zanzibar—Tourism Policy, Environmental Management Policy, Investment Policy, and Blue Economy Policy—with policy instruments for sustainable waste management in hotels. Employing an exploratory research design, the study used Qualitative Document Analysis (QDA) and content analysis of the policy documents, guided by indicators of policy instruments derived from the literature. Findings show a strong alignment of all four policies with legal and regulatory instruments, but limited alignment with economic incentives, informational tools, and voluntary (partnership-based) instruments. The policies also exhibit partial coherence, which hampers effective resolution of hotel waste management challenges. The study underscores the need for a comprehensive policy review to enhance alignment and coherence with sustainable waste management instruments, ultimately supporting the development of environmentally responsible hotel practices in Zanzibar.