Tanzania Tourism

Tanzania’s travel receipts almost doubled to USD 2,560.7 million in 2022 from USD 1,310.3 million in 2021, consistent with the rise in the number of tourist arrivals.

Tanzania received 1,454,920 tourists in 2022, compared to 922,692 in 2021, and 616,491 in 2020.

In 2020, revenues were down to USD 1 billion as it was severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on international travel, from a peak of USD 2.6 billion in revenues and 1.5 million arrivals in 2019.

The sector’s contribution to GDP fell from 10.6% in 2019 to 5.3% in 2020 and climbed to 5.7% in 2021. 

However, given the going fast recovery of the sector, Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC) forecast that the share of tourism in the country’s GDP will reach 19.5% in 2025/26.

Europe traditionally accounts for the largest share of arrivals, followed by Asia and the Pacific, the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East.

Tanzania´s hotel occupancy rate was estimated at 53.8% in December 2019 compared to 44.9% in December 2018.

The increase in tourist arrivals in 2022 was attributed to the lifting of lockdown measures by most countries, and the continued efforts of the Tanzanian government to promote tourism attractions within and outside the country.

“The Royal Tour” Documentary

In April 2022 Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan unveiled the “The Royal Tour” documentary while promoting FDIs during her official visit to the US.

Filmed throughout Tanzania in 2021, it features Emmy Award-winning journalist Peter Greenberg travelling to Tanzania with President Hassan.

She’s the ultimate guide for a week, exhibiting Tanzania’s history, culture, environment, food, and music, as well as telling the stories of Tanzania’s hidden jewels.

Source Markets

In 2022, the United States of America recorded the highest number of arrivals from the rest of the world at 100,600 followed by France (100,371), Germany (67,718), the United Kingdom (60,116) and Poland (46,431).

Meanwhile, arrivals from Africa were from Kenya (166,324) Burundi (100,851), Zambia (46,787), Malawi (44,438) and Rwanda (44,288).

Tourist arrivals from the top 10 countries out of 214 account for 53.2% of all arrivals.

Tanzania Tourism Offer

Tanzania’s incredibly rich natural tourism offer earned it the title of “Africa’s Leading Destination” in 2021.

The natural attractions fall into two main categories: wildlife and beach.

Tanzania Wildlife & Beaches

Tanzania’s wildlife resources are considered among the finest in the world. Tanzania is the only country, which has allocated more than 25% of its total area to wildlife national parks and protected areas.

There are 16 National Parks in Tanzania, 28 Game Reserves, 44 Game controlled areas, 1 conservation area, and 2 Marine Parks.

Tanzania boasts many of Africa’s most renewed destinations; in the north the Serengeti plains, the Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, and Mount Kilimanjaro, and in the south Mikumi and Ruaha National Parks and the Selous Game Reserve.

According to a survey conducted by SafariBookings.com, Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park was voted Africa’s best safari destination for 2020, followed by Mana Pools (Zimbabwe), Mala Mala (South Africa), Okavango Delta (Botswana), and Lower Zambezi (Zambia).

Mount Kilimanjaro was declared Africa’s leading tourist attraction in 2016 during the World Travel Awards Africa and the Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony in Zanzibar.

Other additional natural attractions include the white sandy beaches of the Zanzibar archipelago, those north and south of Dar es Salaam, and excellent deep-sea fishing at the Mafia and Pemba Islands.

Tanzania Hunting

Tanzania is prized for its superb trophy hunting (sport hunting or safari hunting).

Hunting in Tanzania is presently permitted and regulated by the Wildlife Conservation Act of 2009, and its subsidiary regulations.

The hunting industry has grown considerably in the last two decades and Tanzania is among the leading hunting destinations in the world.

Hunting and Forestry jointly contribute 2 to 3 % of the GDP of Tanzania. Given there is such commitment to the conservation and protection of wildlife, it may be surprising to note that, unlike neighbouring Kenya, hunting still occurs in Tanzania.

However, there is in fact no contradiction, as hunting in Tanzania is part of the wildlife conservation process, as it is done in a much-planned manner. Counts of wildlife are taken on a regular basis and hunting licenses are issued accordingly.

Investments in the Tanzanian Tourism Sector

The Tanzanian Government is engaged in developing and promoting sustainable growth in the travel and tourism sector in Tanzania, in order to preserve its natural and cultural resources.

The Government, therefore, is focused on attracting high-income tourists who are less likely to spoil the culture and the natural environment.

Last Update: 10th February 2023

Sources: Bank of Tanzania (BoT), Statista, Tanzania Immigration Department, Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), World Bank (WB).