The Zanzibar tourism sector has witnessed a significant rebound in 2024, with total arrivals reaching 736,755, reflecting a 15.4% increase from 638,498 visitors in 2023.
This data comes from the recently released Zanzibar Annual Tourism Report 2024 by the Office of the Chief Government Statistician Zanzibar, highlighting the island’s status as a premier travel destination.
European tourists comprised the majority, accounting for 71.6% of total visitors. Notably, Italy emerged as the leading source market, contributing 11.8% of all arrivals, followed by Germany (9.7%), France (9.4%), and Poland (7.0%).
Emerging markets showed promising growth, with visitors from Poland, India, Russia, Israel, China, and Ukraine increasing by 12.8% compared to 2023.
In terms of entry points, 87.8% of visitors arrived via the airport, with 592,613 coming through international flights and 54,217 via domestic flights. The seaport welcomed 89,925 visitors, including 5,869 cruise ship passengers.
The primary purpose of travel for 98.3% of visitors was leisure, with only 0.6% visiting friends and relatives, and 1.1% for other reasons. Gender distribution was nearly balanced, with 51.9% female and 48.1% male travelers.
Age demographics revealed that 86.0% of visitors were aged between 15 and 64 years, while both children under 15 and seniors over 65 represented 7.0% each.
