The influx of Tanzania-bound tourists is huge, with future bookings already being sold or lining up for 2026, 2027 and up to 2028
Tanzania has succeeded to reach and surpass its own target of attracting 5 million tourists in 2025. Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT) Pindi Chana told the National Assembly in Tanzania that the number of tourists recorded in the country until April 2025 was 5.3 million, which is 107 pc of the intended target.
“And we have surpassed the target three months before the end of the fiscal year, 2024/2025,” Chana told the assembly, adding that the United Nations (UN) Tourism cites Tanzania as the leading country in Africa as far as post-Covid-19 tourism recovery.
The Minister added that boosting the growth in tourist arrivals an increase of visitors from China which reached 71,000 tourists in the year. The increase of Chinese tourists is credited to the recently produced, Amazing Tanzania Film, a travel documentary about Tanzania, featuring top Sino actors with the appearance of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
According to Chana, the influx of Tanzania-bound tourists is huge, with future bookings already being sold or lining up for 2026, 2027 and up to 2028. Presenting the ministerial budget before the Parliament in Dodoma, the Minister said the sector continues to be the goose which lays the golden eggs, on that earnings from tourism have increased from USD 1.3 billion recorded in 2021 to over USD 3.9 billion in 2024.
She added that the ministry, through its several institutions such as Tanzania National Park (TANAPA), Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) and Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) and the MNRT Portal has managed to collect TZS 912.9 billion (USD 340 million) which is 94.2 pc of the fiscal year target, way before the milestone.
Chana told the Parliament that Tanzania will continue to promote its tourism destinations through international airlines, popular sporting events, travel documentaries and special events. She added that Tanzania will host the World Travel Awards 2025 gala ceremony in the country’s commercial capital of Dar-es-Salaam.
The minister said the World Travel Awards (WTA) organisers confirmed that Tanzania will be the venue of the gala ceremony for Africa and Indian Ocean winners in 2025.
She added that there has been positive development in the sector as well, including abolishing unnecessary tariffs that have been irking investors, tour operators and people who work in the industry. For instance, park fees for tour guides have been scrapped, as long as the driver-guide is accredited with official permits.
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