Zanzibar Sees Record Tourism in July as Italian Arrivals Surge
Zanzibar recorded its highest-ever monthly international arrivals in July 2025, welcoming 98,370 visitors – a 44.3% year-on-year increase and a 45.7% rise from June. According to official tourism data released on 7 August, European markets continue to dominate, with Italy topping the list by contributing 10,403 visitors, a 291% increase from the previous month. France followed as the second-largest market at 7.7%, while Japan accounted for just 0.2%.
The vast majority of arrivals (99.4%) travelled for leisure, with 91% arriving by air. Tourists aged 15 to 64 made up 86% of the total, including a notable proportion of retirees (4.5%). The average length of stay exceeded seven days, with nearly a third of visitors choosing to spend one week on the island. Bed occupancy reached 81.1%, with over 741,000 of the 913,000 available beds filled during the month. Emerging source markets, including Poland, India, Russia, Israel, China, and Ukraine, collectively posted a 42.2% increase in arrivals from June, highlighting Zanzibar’s growing appeal beyond its traditional European base.
Source: The Citizen
