Italy leads in tourist arrivals to Zanzibar in February 2025, amid calls for diversification and promotion
What you need to know:
- Italy emerged as the leading country, contributing the highest number of tourists, with 10,977 visitors, representing 13.3 percent of the total.
Unguja. Zanzibar recorded 82,750 tourists in February 2025, marking a slight decline of 1.6 percent compared to the number of visitors that toured the Island in January 2025.
In response to this drop, stakeholders in the tourism sector are urging for the development of more attractions and increased promotion to target countries that have yet to show interest in visiting the island.
The Statistician in charge of tourism data at the Zanzibar Chief Government Statistician's Office, Ms Fatma Hilali, said the European market continues to lead in tourist arrivals.
"Of the 82,750 visitors to Zanzibar in February 2025, 63,726 were from Europe, which makes up seventy-seven point one percent of the total number of tourists. Africa followed with 8,680 visitors, accounting for ten point five percent of the total, while the Americas ranked third with 5,272 visitors, or six point four percent. Oceania brought up the rear with 534 visitors, representing just zero point six percent," said Ms Hilali.
Italy emerged as the leading country, contributing the highest number of tourists, with 10,977 visitors, representing 13.3 percent of the total.
France followed with 9,340 visitors (11.3 percent), and Poland ranked third with 8,242 visitors (10 percent).
Germany came fourth with 6,544 visitors (7.9 percent), and Scandinavia sent 5,004 visitors, making up 6 percent of the total.
Among the visitors, 75,548 (91.3 percent) arrived via Zanzibar’s airports, while 7,202 (8.7 percent) entered the island via its seaports.
An economist at Zanzibar National University (SUZA), Dr Estela Ngoma Hassan pointed out that Zanzibar continues to face challenges related to seasonal tourism, with fluctuations between peak and off-peak periods.
She emphasised the importance of moving away from this pattern and targeting a year-round influx of visitors.
“Tourism in Zanzibar still reliant on seasonal trends, and this is something we need to address. The goal should be to have tourists visiting year-round, and this will only happen if there are enough attractions that will engage visitors and encourage them to stay longer,” said Dr Ngoma.
She also urged the Ministry of Industry and Trade, along with other tourism bodies to continue promoting Zanzibar and to enhance its offerings to attract more tourists.
Dr Ngoma suggested that Zanzibar should diversify its tourism products beyond the traditional attractions to include a broader range of experiences that would appeal to different tourist demographics.
Meanwhile, a Statistician from the Zanzibar Tourism Commission, Mabadi Jaffar Ramadhani, revealed that the commission is working on introducing new types of tourism, such as food and sports tourism, to diversify and expand the sector.
“We are planning to host exhibitions of traditional Zanzibar cuisine, which will allow people to experience the culture first-hand. This will undoubtedly increase the number of visitors to the island,” said Mr Ramadhani.
He believes that expanding the range of attractions will help boost visitor numbers, as evidenced by the increasing number of national and international conferences and exhibitions being hosted in Zanzibar.
One of the key reasons tourists do not return to Zanzibar is the lack of diverse attractions, which leads to visitor dissatisfaction.
Minister for Tourism and Antiquities, Mr Mudrick Ramadhan Soraga, emphasised that the government is taking steps to enhance the island’s tourism offerings and ensure that tourists return for future visits.
While Zanzibar’s tourism sector contributes more than thirty percent of the national GDP, it has traditionally focused on beaches and cultural heritage.
However, the island is now diversifying into meeting tourism, halal tourism, and sports tourism.
In October 2024, Zanzibar hosted its first halal tourism event, which included conferences and exhibitions attended by globally renowned figures such as Sheikh Ismail Menk.
According to President Hussein Ali Mwinyi, Zanzibar is also exploring the potential for health tourism by building state-of-the-art medical infrastructure, offering visitors a chance to combine treatment with their holiday experience.
Plans are in place for the construction of a major hospital in Binguni where patients seeking treatment can also enjoy the island’s tourist attractions.
