In 2024, Tanzania welcomed 2.14 million international visitors, an 18.5% increase on 2023, generating USD 3.9 billion in revenue, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. When domestic travel is included, total visits reached 5.36 million, surpassing national targets a year ahead of schedule. 

Behind these numbers are human stories travellers discovering the country for the first time, communities benefiting from new livelihoods, and investors recognising a country that is increasingly open for business.

Visitors can now traverse the country with ease thanks to modern roads, expanded airports, and upgraded airstrips in remote national parks, including Serengeti, Nyerere, Ruaha and Mikumi. For travellers, this means more time experiencing wildlife and culture and less time on long, difficult journeys. 

Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, the country’s first female President who has championed major reforms in the tourism sector since assuming the highest office, cherishes this growth, emphasising the broader impact of tourism in the country’s socio-economic growth. 

“Tourism is not just about numbers,” she said during the inauguration of a new hotel in Zanzibar recently. “It creates jobs, generates income for communities, and protects the natural and cultural heritage that makes Tanzania unique.” 

Her words reflect a vision of tourism that benefits both visitors and residents, ensuring that the sector contributes to shared prosperity.

Across the country, small businesses are thriving. Village guides, local artisans, and family-run lodges are connecting directly with tourists. In coastal towns, women’s cooperatives sell handwoven baskets and spices to visitors. In the hinterlands, families host travellers in homestays, sharing meals and stories. 

Every visitor contributes to these communities, creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond the main cities and parks.

The visitor experience is rich and varied. In the Serengeti, guests witness the annual wildebeest migration, camping under open skies while listening to the nocturnal calls of wildlife. 

In Zanzibar, travellers explore narrow stone-paved streets and bustling markets, tasting the fruits of centuries of trade. 

On Kilimanjaro, trekkers find themselves among clouds and glaciers, guided by local experts whose livelihoods depend on safe, responsible tourism.

For investors, Tanzania is increasingly attractive. The sector’s growth has been remarkable: revenues rose from USD 1.3 billion in 2021 to USD 3.9 billion in 2024, creating employment for more than 2.5 million Tanzanians.

The government’s policies encourage high-quality investment in hotels, lodges, safari operations, and eco-tourism projects, while maintaining community involvement and sustainability.

Infrastructure upgrades, policy support, and international marketing campaigns such as ‘The Royal Tour’ and ‘Amazing Tanzania’ have made the country accessible and appealing to both travellers and investors.

Sustainability underpins this growth. Revenue from national parks and conservation areas is reinvested into environmental protection and community development, ensuring that natural and cultural treasures endure for future generations.

Festivals, cultural events, and local tourism initiatives connect visitors with Tanzanian traditions while creating income opportunities for small-scale entrepreneurs.

President Samia stresses the interconnection of tourism, communities, and investment.

“Every visit is an opportunity to support Tanzanian families, protect our heritage, and invite investors to join us in building a sustainable, prosperous tourism economy,” she said.

This message has resonated globally, drawing first-time visitors from Europe, North America, and China, as well as regional travellers from East and Southern Africa.

For those seeking adventure, Tanzania offers experiences that linger in memory: nights spent under starlit savannah skies, early-morning boat trips along the Rufiji River, and hands-on cultural exchanges in villages where hospitality is genuine and personal.

For investors, it offers a growing, stable market with opportunities across luxury and mid-range accommodation, safari logistics, transport, and digital tourism platforms.

The story of Tanzania’s tourism sector is one of balance. It blends thrilling experiences for travellers, meaningful economic benefits for communities, and attractive returns for investors.

It shows that tourism, when managed strategically and inclusively, can generate prosperity while preserving the very treasures that attract people in the first place.

As the country looks to Vision 2050, this approach is set to continue. Infrastructure, human capital, technology, and policy are all aligned to expand the reach of tourism, deepen its benefits, and maintain sustainability.

For visitors and investors alike, Tanzania is no longer a hidden gem, it is a destination and an opportunity, alive with beauty, culture, and potential.

“Tanzania is ready to welcome the world,” President Samia said. “We invite tourists to explore, communities to flourish, and investors to partner with us in building a sustainable future.”

Notes to Editors

·      Government-led global marketing campaigns such as “The Royal Tour” and “Amazing Tanzania” have boosted international visibility.

·      President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania’s first female President, has championed tourism reforms focused on inclusive growth, sustainability and community participation.

·      Tourism revenues are reinvested in wildlife conservation, anti-poaching efforts and community development, reinforcing Tanzania’s sustainable tourism model.

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