Zanzibar Aims to Become Leading Tourism Destination in Indian Ocean

A new marketing program was endorsed last week by Zanzibar’s Ministry of Information, Culture, Tourism and Sports to drive the islands’ tourist economy to the top destination spot in the Indian Ocean.

The program, called ‘Destination Zanzibar’, will be driven by Stone Town Based destination management company, Grassroots Traveler, and will compete with the Maldives and Seychelles Islands, which have long been top Indian Ocean destinations due to heavy investments in the tourism sector.

Preliminary promotional activities are already underway in the Gulf States, which were specifically selected due to their diversified market and status as an untapped region for advertising travel to Zanzibar.

In addition to its well-established reputation for pristine beaches and exotic ambiance, ‘Destination Zanzibar’ also aims to showcase the island as an environmentally sustainable destination with a variety of cultural events and experiences that will heighten the travel experience.

Tourism is Zanzibar’s leading source of revenue, earning 72% of the islands’ foreign currency and 27% of its annual GDP.

Want to know more about Tourism in Tanzania? Our free Tanzania Business and Investment Guide 2026 covers Tourism, plus regulations, key sectors, and investment opportunities — all in one place.

Download Free Guide
Related Posts
Dodoma Region Investment Guide
Read More

Tanzania Government Calls for Investment in Dodoma Mining, Agriculture, Tourism and Trade

Tanzania's Finance Minister and the Dodoma Regional Commissioner have jointly called on investors to tap into opportunities in Dodoma's mining, agriculture, tourism, and trade, with mining flagged as the region's largest potential through value addition. Specific openings include a proposed dry port to leverage Dodoma's central location at the heart of Tanzania, the construction of five-star hotels and international conference centres, and the development of mineral processing facilities, alongside the rollout of the Tourism Development Strategy for Dodoma Region 2025–2030.