Tanzania records 5.3 million tourists in less than a year. Surpasses own target by over 107 percent
Tanzania has succeeded to reach and surpass its own target of attracting 5 million incoming tourists by 2025.
The Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT) Pindi Chana told the National Assembly in Dodoma that the number of tourists recorded in the country until April 2025 was 5.3 million, which is 107 percent of the intended target.
“And we have surpassed the target three months before the end of the fiscal year, 2024/2025,” boasted the Minister, adding that the United Nations (UN) Tourism cites Tanzania as the leading country in Africa as far as Post Covid-19 tourism recovery.
For many years, the number of both local and international tourists visiting the country had stagnated at 1.5 million per annum, but all of a sudden, the figure has jumped to 5.3 million in the course of 2025.
Among the strides taken, include the increase of visitors from China where at the moment 71,000 tourists’ arrivals from the Far East have been experienced in the current fiscal year.
The increase of Chinese tourists is credited to the recently produced, Amazing Tanzania film, a travel documentary about Tanzania, featuring top Sino actors with special appearance of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
According to the Minister, India, which is also another strategic market for the Tanzania travel industry sent 63,391tourists to Tanzania in 2024.
The Tourism Minister added that the influx of Tanzania-bound tourists is huge, with future bookings already being either sold out or lining up for 2026, 2027 and up to 2028.
Presenting the Ministerial Budget before the Parliament in Dodoma, Minister Pindi Chana said the sector continues to be the goose which lays the golden eggs, on that the earnings from tourism have also increased from USD 1.3 billion recorded in 2021 to over USD 3.9 billion in 2024.
The Ministry, through its several institutions such as Tanzania National Park (TANAPA), Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) and Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) and the MNRT Portal has managed to collect 912.9 billion, which is 94.2 Percent of the fiscal year target, way before the milestone.
Tanzania will continue to promote its tourism destinations through international airlines, popular sporting events, travel documentaries and special events.
Tanzania is privileged to host the prestigious World Travel Awards 2025 gala ceremony in the country’s commercial capital of Dar-Es-salaam.
The Minister said the World Travel Awards (WTA) organizers confirmed that Tanzania will be the venue of the Gala Ceremony for Africa and Indian Ocean winners in 2025.
The Africa and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at the Johari Rotana Hotel.
Meanwhile there has been positive development in the sector as well, including abolishing unnecessary tariffs that have been irking investors, tour operators and people who work in the industry.
For instance, Park fees for tour guides have been scrapped, as long as the driver-guide is accredited with official permits.