Tanzania has strengthened its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism destinations after recording a sharp increase in both international and domestic tourist arrivals in 2025, driven by aggressive investments in infrastructure, conservation and destination marketing.
Presenting the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism’s 2026/27 budget estimates in Parliament in Dodoma on Thursday, Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Ashatu Kijaji, said the country welcomed 5.94 million tourists in 2025, up from 5.36 million visitors recorded in 2024.
The increase represents a growth of 10.7 percent, underlining the sector’s expanding contribution to the economy and Tanzania’s growing appeal on the global tourism map.
The minister said international arrivals rose by 7.1 percent from 2.14 million visitors in 2024 to 2.29 million in 2025, while domestic tourism surged by 13.1 percent to 3.64 million visitors from 3.22 million recorded the previous year.
The strong performance has placed Tanzania among the leading tourism success stories globally, with the country receiving growing international recognition for its recovery and expansion after the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Dr. Kijaji, a report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization ranked Tanzania 11th globally in 2025 for growth in international tourist arrivals compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, posting a 51 percent increase.
She added that Tanzania also ranked sixth across Africa and the Middle East in terms of growth in international visitors over the same period.
The minister said the achievements reflect the impact of strategic investments undertaken by the Sixth Phase Government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, whose administration has prioritized tourism promotion, infrastructure development and conservation.
“Tanzania continues to shine internationally because of deliberate government efforts to strengthen tourism services and improve access to attractions,” Dr. Kijaji told lawmakers.
The country also ranked third globally in 2025 among tourism markets with the strongest increase in visitor spending compared to 2024, signaling rising confidence among international travelers and investors.
Tourism earnings equally posted strong growth, reinforcing the sector’s role as a key pillar of the national economy.
Dr. Kijaji said total revenue generated from tourism activities increased from 3.9 billion US dollars in 2024 to 4.4 billion US dollars in 2025, equivalent to a growth of 12.82 percent.
The performance has positioned tourism as Tanzania’s second-largest foreign exchange earner after the mining sector.
As Tanzania’s global tourism profile rises, the country has continued to secure major international accolades.
Tanzania was named the World’s Leading Safari Destination in 2025 for the third consecutive year since 2023, further cementing its reputation as a premier wildlife tourism destination.
At the same time, Serengeti National Park was once again recognised as the world’s best national park, while Zanzibar earned international recognition as a top destination for meetings, conferences and business events.
Beyond tourism growth, the minister highlighted major progress in conservation and wildlife management.
She said the government had successfully completed a nationwide wildlife census aimed at determining the population, distribution and migration trends of wildlife species, alongside identifying environmental threats affecting ecosystems.
Tanzania has also continued to strengthen its standing in global conservation efforts through recognition by UNESCO for its management of world heritage sites.
The beekeeping subsector also registered impressive growth during the period under review.
Honey exports increased from 951.6 tonnes in 2024 to 1,596.8 tonnes in 2025, while export earnings rose sharply from Sh11.4 billion to Sh19.2 billion, representing an increase of 68.4 percent.
Dr. Kijaji attributed the achievement to expanded government support for beekeepers, improved production standards and wider access to international markets.
The minister further linked the tourism boom to continued improvements in infrastructure, including the construction of three airports within national parks, rehabilitation of eight airstrips and upgrading of roads and walking trails in key tourist destinations.
She said the projects have significantly improved accessibility to tourist attractions, enabling visitors to travel more easily and enhancing Tanzania’s competitiveness in the global tourism industry.
