Tourism in Tanzania surpasses the target of 5 million visitors. Data shows that the number of Chinese tourists in this East African country increases every year. Among these tourists, 3.22 million were nationals while 2.14 million came from international markets, indicating a significant increase in domestic tourism.
Tanzania : Increasingly Popular Destination for Chinese Tourists
The number of visitors to Tanzania has been growing each year since the global COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism estimated the number of tourists in 2023 at 1,808,205, up from 1,454,920 in 2022—an increase of 24.3%. The rise in tourist numbers translates into an increase in revenue from 2.5 billion USD in 2022 to 3.4 billion USD in 2023 and to 4 billion USD last year.
In the past year, Tanzania ranked second in Africa and twelfth in the world in the UN’s ranking of the most successful tourist destinations. Furthermore, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Tanzania increases annually.
According to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, about 54,444 Chinese tourists visited Tanzania between January and September 2024, surpassing the total number of tourist arrivals for the entire year of 2023.
Tanzania is launching several initiatives to capture the Chinese tourist market. Notably, they organized a tourism roadshow in major Chinese cities and launched the documentary Amazing Tanzania in Beijing last year. The documentary features Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi, and prominent Chinese actor Jin Dong, known for attracting more Chinese tourists to Tanzania.
Most Visited Destinations in Tanzania
The most visited destinations in Tanzania remain Serengeti National Park, welcoming over 300,000 visitors. This is followed by Tarangire National Park, which hosts more than 241,741 visitors, and Mount Kilimanjaro, attracting 40,000 visitors per year. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area remains the most visited site, drawing over 515,000 visitors annually.
In a recent report by REPOA (July 2024), “The synergies between tourism and other sectors, notably food and accommodation, entertainment and hospitality, transport, construction, ICT, and finance, offer great potential to provoke the much-desired economic structural transformation.“
The report highlights that Tanzania receives most of its international visitors from the European Union (France, Germany, Italy), the United States, and the United Kingdom. The country also welcomes many visitors from Africa (Kenya, Burundi, Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda).
Tanzania Attracts Foreign Investments in the Tourism Sector
More than half of the visitors (59%) come to the country for leisure and vacations; others visit family and friends (14.1%), while some travel for business purposes (12.1%) or to attend meetings and conferences (6.1%), as detailed in the report.
The main purpose of the visit varies according to the visitor’s country of origin. Those arriving from African countries often travel to visit family and friends or for business reasons. Visitors from Europe, the United States, and the United Kingdom visit Tanzania primarily for leisure and vacations.
The country also attracts foreign investments in the tourism sector. The most recent investment is from the world-renowned five-star hotel chain Four Seasons. In addition to its first establishment, the Four Seasons Serengeti, Four Seasons—a global leader in luxury hospitality—and the international investment company Albwardy Investment have partnered to open a luxury resort in Zanzibar.
Chinese Investments Boost Tourism in Tanzania
Chinese investments in infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative have notably enabled China to construct Terminal 3 of Zanzibar’s Abeid Amani Karume International Airport. This infrastructure will serve as the main gateway for international tourist arrivals.
Meanwhile, construction work is underway, including the modernization of about 100 km of roads in the city center and the construction of at least two bridges. According to the Office of the Chief Government Statistician (OCGS) of Zanzibar, tourism accounts for 27% of Zanzibar’s Gross Domestic Product and 80% of its foreign exchange earnings. With China’s significant contribution, Zanzibar is now transforming its essential infrastructure for the tourism industry. Zanzibar and China can further deepen their cooperative relations in areas such as conference and exhibition tourism, health tourism, educational tourism, sports tourism, and others.
