Unguja. Zanzibar welcomed 82,750 tourists in February 2025, showing a minor decrease of 1.6 percent compared to the influx of visitors in January 2025.
In light of this decline, tourism stakeholders are advocating for the development of additional attractions and enhanced promotional efforts targeting potential markets that remain untapped.
According to the Chief Government Statistician’s Office, European visitors continue to dominate tourist arrivals in Zanzibar.
“Of the 82,750 visitors to Zanzibar in February 2025, 63,726 were from Europe, accounting for 77.1 percent of the total. Africa followed with 8,680 visitors (10.5 percent), while the Americas brought in 5,272 visitors (6.4 percent). Oceania contributed 534 visitors, representing just 0.6 percent,” stated a tourism statistician.
Italy topped the list of contributing countries, sending 10,977 tourists to Zanzibar, which is 13.3 percent of the total visitors. France and Poland followed closely with 9,340 (11.3 percent) and 8,242 (10 percent) visitors, respectively. Germany and Scandinavia contributed 6,544 (7.9 percent) and 5,004 (6 percent) visitors, respectively.
Among the total visitors, 75,548 (91.3 percent) arrived through Zanzibar’s airports, while 7,202 (8.7 percent) accessed the island via its seaports.
An economist at Zanzibar National University noted the ongoing challenges related to seasonal tourism, highlighting the need for strategies to encourage year-round visitation.
“Tourism in Zanzibar still relies heavily on seasonal trends, which is an issue we must tackle. Our objective should be to attract visitors throughout the year, supported by sufficient engaging attractions that encourage longer stays,” the economist emphasized.
She also urged the Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant tourism bodies to enhance promotional efforts and broaden the range of experiences available to tourists.
Further diversification of tourism products beyond conventional offerings is essential to appeal to diverse tourist demographics.
Meanwhile, engaging new tourism avenues such as food and sports tourism is under consideration, with plans for local culinary exhibitions designed to immerse visitors in the island’s rich culture, significantly boosting visitor engagement.
The tourism commission believes that a broader array of attractions will increase visitor numbers, catalyzed by the rise of national and international conferences hosted in Zanzibar.
A critical factor in the decline of repeat visits has been cited as a lack of diverse attractions, leading to visitor dissatisfaction.
The Minister for Tourism has affirmed that steps are being taken to enhance Zanzibar’s tourism offerings in order to ensure returning visitors.
While tourism contributes over 30 percent to the national GDP, its focus has predominantly been on beaches and cultural heritage.
Zanzibar is now diversifying into areas like meeting tourism, halal tourism, and sports tourism. The island recently hosted its inaugural halal tourism event, featuring internationally recognized guests.
Additionally, plans are in progress to establish a state-of-the-art medical facility aimed at promoting health tourism, affording visitors the unique opportunity to combine healthcare with leisure on the island. A major hospital is set to be constructed in Binguni to accommodate patients seeking medical care while enjoying Zanzibar’s attractions.
