Zanzibar’s official arrivals data is showing that demand is beginning to outstrip the breadth of experiences available to visitors beyond hotels and beaches.
According to the latest Tourism Statistical Release, for the full year 2025, international arrivals reached 917 167 (up from 736 755 in 2024).
Accommodation performance points to growing capacity pressure with occupancy reaching close to 89% in December and more than 815 000 bed nights sold in a single month. The average intended length of stay was just over eight nights.
“These figures confirm that Zanzibar is firmly in a growth phase with longer stays and rising demand placing increasing pressure on tourism infrastructure,” said Aboud Suleiman Jumbe, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Heritage.
“This growth creates clear opportunities for strategic investment that deepens the visitor experience while supporting national development priorities.”
International hotel groups and boutique operators have responded quickly to rising demand with TUI Group, Hilton, ENVI Lodges and Minor Hotels all investing in developments.
Government officials say there is currently a strategic window for early stage investment in the next phase of Zanzibar’s tourism development, particularly in attractions, cultural infrastructure, family experiences, eco-tourism and integrated leisure developments that complement the rapid expansion of hotel capacity.
“We are actively encouraging investment that adds depth, diversity and resilience to Zanzibar’s tourism offering,” Jumbe said. “Investors who come in now have an opportunity not only to benefit from growth but to help shape the destination’s tourism landscape for the next decade.”
