Zanzibar: The islands of Zanzibar welcomed 100,216 international visitors in January 2026, a 19% increase on the previous year, signalling a strong recovery for the East African archipelago’s tourism sector.
Europe accounted for nearly 70% of arrivals, led by Italy, France, Poland, and Germany, while African markets contributed 16.6%, with South Africa supplying 5.9%.
Asia, the Americas, and Oceania made up the remainder. Air travel remained dominant, with 92.4% of visitors entering via airports.
Tourist arrivals have steadily increased over five years, from 42,445 in January 2022 to surpass 100,000 in January 2026. Male tourists comprised 58.4% of visitors, females 41.6%, and the average stay was eight days, generating substantial economic benefits for hotels, tour operators, and local communities.
Officials say the figures highlight Zanzibar’s appeal to international travellers and its potential as a high-value tourism destination.
Infrastructure development, marketing campaigns, and sustainable tourism initiatives are central to maintaining the islands’ competitive edge in the global travel market.
