The enthusiasm for Tanzania continues unabated, with strong performances in 2023. According to data from the Bank of Tanzania cited by the Africa24 site, tourism generated $3.37 billion in revenue. last year, becoming the country’s leading source of foreign currency… ahead of gold exports. Now, the sector generates 17% of Tanzania’s GDP and is the 3rd largest provider of employment, according to UN Tourism.
During the Covid crisis, the destination never closed its borders, offering a refuge to travelers when travel restrictions were the norm everywhere on the planet. A strategy that allowed Tanzania to quickly relaunch on the international market: in 2023, the destination surpassed its pre-Covid performance, with 1.8 million travelers (vs. 1.5 in 2019), showing +24% compared to the previous year. The island of Zanzibar, for its part, recorded tourist arrivals up 16.4% in 2023, reaching a record figure of 638,498 tourists.
And Tanzania does not intend to stop there: the stated objective is to reach five million international tourists by 2025.
Gradually, the offer diversifies. The latest report from fDi Intelligence, from Financial Times, and UN Tourism also ranks the United Republic of Tanzania, with nine projects, among the top 10 countries in Africa and the Middle East with the greatest number of investments in entirely new installations in the tourism sector. tourism.
Gathered within the walls of the Tanzanian embassy at the initiative of the “Wild Tanzania – Leaders Club”, which promotes the destination in Europe, destination professionals came to present their new products during the annual workshop. organized a few days ago, in the presence of the new ambassador, HE Ali Jabir Mwadini.
Pioneers and newcomers
A pioneer in tourism in Tanzania, Tanganyika is currently developing a beach lodge project in Saadani, in the north of the country. The TO continues the development of eco-responsible safaris; This year he will experience a 100% electric safari. “It’s a test,” explains Denis Lebouteux, head of the TO. Previously we mixed the two types of vehicles. There, customers will not touch a Diesel vehicle. » An evolution made possible thanks to the improvement in battery autonomy. Tanganyika has also just signed the purchase of the Emerson hotel in Zanzibar. “We will begin the renovation work in the fall,” says Denis Lebouteux. But we’ll take our time. The city is attracting more and more travelers, who want to discover another side of Zanzibar. » The hotel will not close during the renovation work, which will last until the end of 2025.
Zanzibar is increasingly attracting tourist operators. A new exhibitor at this workshop, Lux set up shop there with the opening last year of Lux Marijani, its first hotel management agreement in East Africa. Boasting an Arabic architectural style inspired by the Spice Island’s past, this intimate 82-room resort stretches along Pwani Mchangani beach. It has several restaurants and bars, including a Café Lux, as well as a spa and a family area. The Marijani Zanzibar has just been ranked among the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best Hotels: Best Hotel in Africa (10th) and Luxury Hotel in Africa (18th). DMC specialist in Zanzibar, Africa Spirit announces the extension of private villas within the Karafuu Beach Resort & SPA.
The south, “the best kept secret”
In “slow safari” mode, Laba Laba also offers very high-end services with the Laba Migration Camp, a luxurious camp in the Serengeti, promising an immersion in the atmosphere of the first safaris of the 19th century. Like herds, mobile, the Laba Migration Camp is itinerant. Laba Laba also has three lodges furnished with a certain sense of decoration and for good reason: lovers of the African continent, the owners are the founders of the Maisons du Monde brand, which they have now sold. One of the lodges is on a wild island, the other two are located in southern Tanzania. The south, “the best kept secret” of the destination, explains Najoua Janin, who represents Laba Laba in France. “Many travelers go to the Serengeti, where we are also present, because it is easier to access and you are sure to tick off the list of animals to see… But the luxury that Tanzania offers is the intimate tête-à-têtes with wildlife. In our lodges in the south, we are truly in a pioneering spirit, that of the quest, where we go looking for animals. When you come across them in this part of Tanzania, you are alone in the world with them. »
New air connections
There is also something new on the air side. While Air France has just announced the launch of a connection to Kilimanjaro, in November, continuing from Zanzibar, the Tanzanian company Flightlink, which operates several domestic routes, also hopes to develop Paris-Kilimanjaro flights, departing from ‘Orly this time. Negotiations are underway. On this line, which will operate during the high season, from June to February, Flightlink plans to fly 20,000 to 25,000 customers.
For its part, Ethiopian Airlines is expanding its connections: in addition to its flight at 10:20 a.m. from Addis Ababa, the company will add a second flight departing from Addis Ababa at 8:55 a.m. to guarantee better connectivity and a shorter stopover for passengers. came from France. This additional flight has been in effect since June 16, 2024, 4 times per week. The company is also increasing its frequency of flights from Marseille from December 2 with an additional flight to Addis Ababa, via Madrid.
An airport project has also been announced on the island of Pemba, which in turn is attracting growing interest from tourism operators.
