Zanzibar tourism soars 24pc in October
ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR’S tourism sector is riding a strong wave of growth, with more than 86,700 international visitors arriving in October 2025, a sharp 24 per cent increase compared to the same month last year.
The development signals renewed global interest in the Isles’ pristine beaches, rich culture and warm hospitality.
Presenting the latest figures during a media briefing at the Office of the Chief Government Statistician (OCGS) in Mazizini, Research and Statistics Officer at the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism, Mr Hassan Ameir Vuai, said the impressive surge underscores the sector’s continued recovery and expansion.
“The total number of arrivals increased from 69,860 in October 2024 to 86,740 this year, representing a 3.1 per cent rise compared to September 2025,” he said.
Europe remained Zanzibar’s leading source market, contributing 67.2 per cent (58,332 visitors) of total arrivals, followed by Africa with 16.8 per cent (14,600 visitors) and Asia with 8.6 per cent (7,431 visitors). Oceania accounted for 1.4 per cent (1,186 visitors).
Among individual countries, Italy led with 8,894 visitors (10.3 per cent), followed by Germany (8.7per cent ), France (8.3 per cent ), the United Kingdom (5.9 per cent) and South Africa (5 per cent).
Mr Vuai further noted that 92 per cent of visitors arrived by air, while the remaining 8 per cent came by sea. Men accounted for 55.5 per cent of total arrivals and women 44.5 per cent.
He added that leisure travel continued to dominate, with 99.3 per cent of tourists visiting for holidays, while a small number came for business or conferences. The average length of stay for visitors in October stood at eight days.
In related updates, the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC) reported 23 minor health cases involving visitors during the month, with no serious incidents recorded.
Meanwhile, Immigration Officer Rashid Abdallah Ali assured that the department continues to maintain strict verification of all visitor documents and works closely with relevant agencies to address cases of foreigners engaging in unauthorised employment.
Commenting on the growing trend, Dr Estela Ngoma Hassan, an economist from the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA), said the Isles can attract even more visitors through innovative environmental conservation efforts, similar to Kenya’s success in mangrove restoration and eco-tourism initiatives.
ALSO READ: Zanzibar records strong tourism growth in September
She urged local stakeholders to prioritise sustainability and creativity in tourism development.
Echoing her sentiments, Mr Moto Ngwinganole Logobi, Economic Manager at the Bank of Tanzania (Zanzibar Office), said the steady rise in tourist numbers is boosting employment opportunities and national revenue.
He added that the increase in hotel investments is stimulating Zanzibar’s economy and strengthening its financial institutions through higher foreign currency inflows.
