Zanzibar Tourism Surges: 37,038 International Visitors Recorded in May 2025
Zanzibar has experienced a remarkable 23.5 percent increase in international tourism, welcoming 37,038 visitors in May 2025. The latest statistics reveal a robust recovery in the island’s tourism sector, with European travelers continuing to dominate the market.
European tourists comprised 53.9 percent of total arrivals, with Germany leading at 10.8 percent. Air travel remained the primary mode of entry, accounting for 88.1 percent of visitors, with 25,122 arriving on international flights and 7,512 on domestic connections.
Leisure travel overwhelmingly drove tourism, with 99.2 percent of visitors arriving for holidays. Male travelers represented 56.2 percent of arrivals, while the majority of visitors (90 percent) were in the 15-64 age group.
Emerging markets showed significant growth, with visitor numbers from countries like Poland, India, Russia, Israel, China, and Ukraine rising by 60.8 percent compared to the previous year. Notably, Ukrainian arrivals surged by 219.3 percent, while Israeli visitors increased by over 272 percent.
However, the tourism sector faces challenges with bed occupancy. Despite the increased arrivals, only 258,684 of 913,911 available bed spaces were utilized, resulting in a modest 28.3 percent occupancy rate.
As Zanzibar continues to attract diverse international tourists, the focus remains on enhancing infrastructure and developing strategies to encourage longer stays and improve overall tourism revenue.
