a hard blow for tourism in Tanzania?

At the start of 2025, the company will temporarily stop its service to Tanzania. Local tour operators fear a loss of attractiveness of the destination to the benefit of other countries in the region such as Kenya.

No more direct flights between France and Zanzibar, at least for a few months. The only non-stop connection between France and the Tanzanian archipelago, operated by Air France, will be suspended from March 22 to May 25, 2025 inclusive, “a period of low activity in this area», Indicates the company to the specialized media TourMag. On the Air France website, it is impossible to find direct flights between these dates.

Launched in October 2021, the Paris-Zanzibar connection currently operates all year round with a frequency of three weekly round trips. Since November 18, it has even been extended to Kilimanjaro, in northern Tanzania, Air France’s other Tanzanian destination which will also not be served during this period. Member of the same group, sister company KLM is also suspending service to Zanzibar from Amsterdam for a longer period from March to October 2025.

Compulsory insurance, another obstacle to tourism

The news arouses concern among local tourism professionals. “A direct air connection promotes the attractiveness of a destination. This is an undeniable advantage for customers looking for comfort and ease.underlines Frédérique Duvignacq, representative of the French-speaking clientele of the incoming agency Soaring Flamingo. By adding a stopover and additional travel time, some travelers will forgo Tanzania in favor of Kenya or theSouth Africa .» And added that the impact will be twofold, both for seaside tourism in Zanzibar and for safari tours in the north of the country.

Of course, this suspension of service occurs during the rainy season (March to May), a period not recommended for visitors. But out-of-season tourism risks suffering: “Travelers who favor this off-peak period to obtain better prices risk deserting the destination next spring», she adds.

The news comes weeks after the introduction of a new measure for foreign travelers visiting Zanzibar. Since October 1, even if they already have other travel insurance, they are required to take out a contract with a local insurer at a cost of 44 dollars (42 €) per stay. “Added to a deterioration in air service, this disguised tax will clearly not promote tourist activity.», Regrets Frédérique Duvignacq.

What are the alternatives?

French people who wish to travel to Zanzibar from Paris during the suspension period will have to take flights with a stopover, at the cost of extending travel time by several hours. With Air France, it is possible to take a flight between Paris and Nairobi, then a connection with its partner Kenya Airways to Zanzibar. A total journey time of 13 hours 55 minutes, much more than the 9 hours in a direct flight.

From Paris, one-way flights are possible with Kenya Airways (1:40 p.m. with a stopover in Nairobi), Ethiopian Airlines (12:10 p.m. with a stopover in Addis Ababa), Turkish Airlines (1:05 p.m. with a stopover in Istanbul), Qatar Airways (1:35 p.m. with a stopover in Doha) and Emirates (3:05 p.m. with stopover in Dubai). The latter three also offer flights with a stopover from Nice (around 2:30 p.m.). Finally, it is possible to connect Paris to Zanzibar with KLM with two connections, one in Amsterdam, the other in Dar es Salaam, the economic capital of the country.