ZANZIBAR, Jan. 1 -- Zanzibars current account surplus has strengthened markedly, signalling a sustained improvement in the external sector as strong growth in services exports driven by rising tourism receipts has more than offset import pressures and the decline in traditional goods exports.

The latest Bank of Tanzania Monthly Economic Review shows that the current account surplus widened sharply, rising by 42.8 per cent to 928.2 million US dollars in the year ending October, up from 649.9 million US dollars recorded a year earlier.

Service receipts, especially from tourism, have been the principal contributor to export growth, even as traditional goods exports such as cloves have declined sharply.

This sustained improvement in the cu...