Unguja, Zanzibar.** In a remarkable turnaround for its tourism sector, Zanzibar welcomed 91,611 international visitors in December 2024, representing a substantial 30.5% increase from the 70,186 visitors recorded in December 2023. South Africa and Kenya have emerged as significant contributors, ranking second and sixth in tourist numbers, while Italy continues to dominate as the leading source market.
The month of December witnessed a notable surge in tourism, with a 36.6% rise in visitors compared to November 2024. The latest data from the Office of the Chief Government Statistician and the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism reveals that Europe accounted for 68.1% of total arrivals, with Italian tourists leading the way at 12,552 visitors—13.7% of the overall count.
South Africa’s market contribution saw 7,252 visitors (7.9%), while Kenya attracted 4,260 visitors (4.7%). Notably, 89.7% of all visitors arrived by air, bolstering Zanzibar’s position as a favored destination. The Abeid Amaan Karume International Airport alone served 82,154 passengers, comprised of 69,779 international arrivals and 12,375 domestic travelers.
Sea access also played a role with 9,457 visitors arriving through the seaport, including 1,332 cruise ship passengers and 8,125 sea ferry travelers from mainland Tanzania. The predominant reason for travel remained leisure, with 99.2% of visitors coming for vacation purposes. Additionally, the profile of visitors showcased a higher female presence at 55.7%, against 44.3% male visitors.
Zanzibar continues to draw a youthful demographic; 84.1% of visitors are aged between 15 and 64, while children under 15 comprised 10% and seniors aged 65 and older accounted for 5.9%. Emerging markets also displayed promising growth, with countries like Poland, India, Russia, Israel, China, and Ukraine collectively experiencing a 26.6% increase in arrivals compared to December 2023.
Tourists enjoyed an average stay of eight days, with a significant 22.9% spending a week on the island. The demand for lodging remained robust, with hotels in Zanzibar achieving an impressive 92.4% bed occupancy rate, selling 720,102 of the 779,216 available bed spaces.
With a diverse mix of visitors, Zanzibar’s tourism industry is poised for sustained growth, attracting an increasing number of tourists from both traditional European markets and emerging economies across Africa and beyond.
