ARUSHA, Tanzania, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar has embarked on hefty promotion of tourist attractions in efforts to lure more foreign tourists, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Mwinjuma Muharam Saleh, advisor of tourism development in the Zanzibar's Department of Forestry and Non-renewable Natural Resources, said that Zanzibar has a wide range of tourist destinations which are yet to be explored.

"And this is caused by limited information as many people are unaware of what we have in Zanzibar. So, we're currently placing leaflets in these tourism potential areas to attract tourists, as ways of disseminating information and showing destination of the said attractions," the official said.

According to him, the campaign involves a number of stakeholders such as tour operators, Zanzibar Commission for Tourism and Tanzania Tourism Board in mainland Tanzania.

He cited areas which are key for tourism purposes as Kiwengwa-Pongwe in Unguja North Region and Ngezi forest in Pemba.

Saleh said Kiwengwa-Pongwe forest reserve has 47 species of birds which includes Fischer's turaco, Zanzibar sombre, crowned hornbill and white browed coucal.

"The area is also rich in medicinal plants and Mwanamkasi Mchekani caves are also considered as important for luring tourists," he said.

He also described Ngezi Forest Reserve in Pemba Island as key because it's a home to Pemba flying fox and unique Pemba Scop owls, nocturnal birds.

Zanzibar archipelago has recorded a 15 percent increase in the number of international tourists to 433,474 in 2017 from 376,242 in 2016.