Zanzibar Records 4.9% Increase in International Tourists for February 2026

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Zanzibar welcomed 86,839 international tourists in February 2026, a 4.9% jump from the 82,750 international tourist arrivals the island recorded in February 2025. The numbers signal steady momentum. They also reveal how much ground the island still needs to cover before it hits its ambitious target of one million tourists a year.

Zanzibar drew 100,216 visitors in the first month of 2026, marking a 13.3%  month-on-month dip in February’s arrival numbers. Seasonal patterns likely explain much of the drop, but tourism officials are closely tracking every fluctuation.

Fatma Hilal Mohammed, a statistician from the Tourism Unit of the Office of the Chief Government Statistician in Zanzibar, presented the breakdown. Men made up 49,451 of the arrivals, 56.9 per cent of the total, while women accounted for 37,388 visitors, or 43.1 per cent.

Europe Dominates, But Africa and Asia Are Gaining Ground

Europe sent the most visitors to Zanzibar in February, contributing 67,171 tourists, a commanding 77.4 per cent share of all international tourist arrivals. Africa ranked second with 8,690 visitors (10 per cent), followed by Asia with 5,362 (6.2 per cent). The Americas placed fourth at 5,324 visitors (6.1 per cent), while Oceania contributed 289 tourists, accounting for 0.3 per cent of arrivals.

The dominance of European tourists reflects years of targeted marketing and strong air connectivity. Hassan Ameir Vuai, an official from the Zanzibar Tourism Commission, confirmed that efforts are underway to pull more visitors from additional European countries, expanding reach beyond Zanzibar’s traditional strongholds. The goal is to diversify source markets and reduce the risk of leaning too heavily on a single region.

The airport remains the dominant entry point. Zanzibar received 82,155 visitors, 94.6 per cent of the total, through its airports, with the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport processing the bulk of arrivals. Seaports received 4,684 visitors, or 5.4%  of the total.

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Leisure Drives Almost Every Arrival

The reason tourists come to Zanzibar is not complicated. Approximately 99.7% of February’s visitors travelled for leisure, holidays, beaches, and culture. Only 0.2% came to visit friends and relatives, while the remaining 0.1% came for business, meetings, or other purposes.

That near-total leisure dominance shapes everything: from what infrastructure the island needs to what experiences operators must deliver to how the government positions Zanzibar on the global travel map. The island’s beaches and reputation for hospitality remain its sharpest competitive advantages.

Bakar Hussein Yussuf, statistics manager at the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation, noted that February saw 22 cases involving tourists, 5 road accidents, and 17 cases tied to common illnesses. Despite those incidents, the island continues to attract visitors at a scale that many destinations in the region cannot match. He stressed that Zanzibar must strengthen efforts to protect and promote its natural assets if it wants those numbers to keep rising.

Closing the Seaport Gap: A Service Problem Worth Fixing

Tourism stakeholders received February’s numbers with cautious optimism. Growth is real. The trend is moving in the right direction. But reaching one million annual visitors requires more than steady incremental gains; it demands structural improvements that elevate Zanzibar’s performance at every touchpoint.

One area drawing particular attention is the seaport experience. Assistant Immigration Superintendent Said Rajab Hassan called on the Ministry of Tourism and Heritage to work hand in hand with the Zanzibar Ports Corporation to enhance customer service for visitors arriving by sea. His concern is specific: some port staff lack the communication skills to engage effectively with international tourists.

That gap matters; a visitor’s first interaction with an island shapes their entire memory of it. Poor handling at the port, confusion, cold responses, and a sense of being processed rather than welcomed can quietly drive down return visits and referrals, two metrics that affect long-term growth as much as raw arrival numbers.

Hassan added that the Immigration Department plans to establish a dedicated tourism unit to improve how staff serve visitors. The unit would bring sharper focus and accountability to an area that tends to fall through the cracks between institutions.

What It Takes to Reach One Million Tourists

The million-visitor milestone sits at the centre of every conversation about Zanzibar’s tourism future. February’s 86,839 arrivals are a promising step. But reaching one million tourists annually means sustaining and accelerating growth across all twelve months, not just the peak seasons, and addressing the service, infrastructure, and marketing gaps that limit the island’s ceiling.

European markets remain fertile, and the Commission’s push to recruit visitors from more countries on the continent makes sense. Africa, still at just 10 per cent of arrivals, represents an underdeveloped opportunity. The continent’s growing middle class, increasing air routes, and shared cultural proximity to Zanzibar make it a logical next frontier for tourism outreach.

Asia at 6.2 per cent shows similar potential. Demand from China, India, and Southeast Asia for Indian Ocean beach destinations has grown sharply over the past decade. Zanzibar, with the right direct flights and targeted campaigns, could pull a far larger share of that market.

But none of those gains sticks without consistently excellent on-the-ground experiences. Visitors who feel welcome, safe, and well served come back. They recommend the island to others. They post the kind of content that does marketing work no budget can fully replicate. Zanzibar’s natural appeal is enormous. The job now is making sure the service systems match it.

Want more stories on Africa’s fastest-growing travel destinations and tourism trends? Read them at Rex Clarke Adventures.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) And Answers

1. How many tourists visited Zanzibar in February 2025?

Zanzibar recorded 86,839 international tourist arrivals in February 2025, reflecting a 4.9 per cent increase compared to the same month in 2024.

2. Which country or region sends the most tourists to Zanzibar?

Europe is Zanzibar’s top source market, accounting for 77.4 per cent (67,171 visitors) of all international arrivals in February 2025. Africa ranked second at 10 per cent, followed by Asia at 6.2 per cent.

3. What is Zanzibar’s annual tourism target?

Zanzibar aims to attract one million international tourists annually. Tourism stakeholders say the island is making progress but needs stronger marketing, infrastructure improvements, and better customer service to hit that target.

4. How do most tourists arrive in Zanzibar?

The vast majority, 94.6%, arrive by air, primarily through the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport. Seaports handle the remaining 5.4% of arrivals.

5. Why do tourists visit Zanzibar?

Nearly all tourists (99.7%) visit Zanzibar for leisure, particularly beach holidays. The island’s natural attractions and reputation for hospitality are its primary draws.