Dodoma. Tanzania has reaffirmed its commitment to becoming a top-tier global travel destination with the approval of a TZS 359.98 billion budget for the tourism sector in the 2025/26 fiscal year. Endorsed by Parliament on May 20, 2025, this ambitious budget is set to fuel key tourism pillars—ranging from global marketing campaigns to infrastructure development and natural resource conservation.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism outlined ten key priority areas that will benefit from this funding, with a strong focus on positioning Tanzania as a competitive tourism hub. Among the top goals is promoting Tanzania internationally through advertisements across global sports platforms, aviation networks, tourism caravans, major festivals, and international media channels. This aggressive visibility strategy aims to attract more long-haul travelers and international tour operators.
The budget also supports the development of diverse tourism experiences, including cultural heritage sites, beach tourism, conference and event tourism (MICE), medical and wellness tourism, and cruise ship attractions. Strategic investments will also go into enhancing infrastructure—roads, airports, and visitor services—to improve tourist mobility and comfort, particularly in remote or underexplored areas.
Other major priorities include:
- Deploying modern technology for efficient tourism management, monitoring, and promotion.
- Strengthening the conservation of wildlife, forests, and cultural heritage.
- Supporting value addition in forestry and beekeeping to promote eco-tourism-linked enterprises.
- Enhancing community awareness on sustainable resource use and involving locals in conservation-driven tourism.
- Improving tourism data systems, conducting research, and streamlining advisory services.
- Reviewing sector policies and regulations to align with emerging global tourism trends.
During the parliamentary session, Speaker Hon. Tulia Ackson emphasized the importance of accountability and ensuring that every cent of the budget is directed toward sustainable tourism growth. Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr. Pindi Chana, announced that leading conservation agencies including TANAPA and NCAA will now retain a portion of their revenues to support maintenance in key tourist areas, such as bridge repairs and park facilities.
Timotheo Mnzava, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Land, Natural Resources, and Tourism, backed the move, noting that operational funds are crucial to ensuring smooth experiences for both local and international visitors.
Tourism Arrivals on the Rise
Tanzania’s tourism performance continues on an upward trajectory. International arrivals jumped by 132.1%, from 922,692 visitors in 2021 to 2.14 million in 2024. Domestic tourism also witnessed explosive growth—rising by 307.9% to over 3.2 million local travelers. With a combined total of 5.36 million tourists in 2024, Tanzania has surpassed its national target of 5 million visitors.
In recognition of this impressive comeback, the UN World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) named Tanzania Africa’s top performer in post-pandemic tourism recovery in 2024, ahead of Ethiopia, Morocco, Kenya, and Tunisia.
As the country moves into the 2025/26 fiscal year with a robust tourism budget, strategic investments, and rising global interest, Tanzania is poised to solidify its place as one of Africa’s most dynamic and diverse tourism destinations.