Dar es Salaam. International visitors to Tanzania spent significantly more in 2025, with average expenditure per person per night rising by 19 percent to $289 from $243 recorded in 2024, signalling continued growth in the value generated from the tourism sector.
The increase was revealed in the 2025 International Visitors’ Exit Survey report published by the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) on July 13, 2026, which shows that visitor spending in Zanzibar also increased during the period.
According to the report, average expenditure per person per night in Zanzibar rose by 9 percent to $274 in 2025 from $251 in 2024.
The growth in visitor spending was supported by increased demand for Tanzania’s tourism products, longer stays and higher expenditure among international travellers.
The US, Italy and France were the leading source markets for Tanzania Mainland, while Italy, France and the United Kingdom were the largest sources of visitors to Zanzibar.
“Leisure and holidays remained the main purpose of visit in both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, accounting for 64.6 per cent and 92.9 percent, respectively,” the report reads.
Holidaymakers largely preferred package tour arrangements, while business travellers and visitors coming to see friends and relatives mostly used non-package arrangements.
The survey shows that the average length of stay was nine nights in Tanzania Mainland and six nights in Zanzibar.
Wildlife safaris, beach tourism, visiting friends and relatives, and business activities remained the main reasons for travel.
Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Stone Town, beaches and Tarangire continued to rank among the most visited attractions.
The report said Tanzania’s tourism sector maintained its strong recovery following the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, with increased visitor numbers and higher spending supporting foreign exchange earnings and economic activity.
Tourism earnings reached $4.41 billion in 2025, up from $3.9 billion in 2024, while Zanzibar recorded earnings of $1.19 billion compared with $997.8 million during the same period.
The increase in earnings was supported by growth in international tourist arrivals, which rose by 7.1 percent from 2,141,895 visitors in 2024 to 2,294,495 in 2025.
The BoT said the sector’s performance reaffirmed tourism’s role as a major contributor to foreign exchange earnings and overall economic development.
The latest figures also highlight the importance of attracting high-spending visitors as Tanzania seeks to increase the economic benefits generated from its tourism resources.
