7,000 Nigerians Toured Zanzibar in 2024 – Tanzania Envoy

Tanzanian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Selestine Kakele, announced that Zanzibar saw a surge in Nigerian tourists, with 7,000 visitors in 2024, up from 5,000 in 2023.

Speaking at the 21st Akwaaba African Travel Market (AFTM) in Lagos on Tuesday, Kakele highlighted Zanzibar’s growing appeal as a cultural and leisure destination. 

The three-day expo, organized by Akwaaba African Travel Ltd in collaboration with Wakanow, Air Peace, Interswitch, Lagos State, and Gambia, concludes on September 16, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

“Our numbers are increasing on a yearly basis.

“In 2023, we attracted more than 5,000 Nigerians who went to Zanzibar as tourists. Last year the number grew to 7,000,” he said.

The envoy said Tanzania was also promoting other destinations, including Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti and Mount Kilimanjaro as major attractions for African travellers.

“If you have never been to Serengeti, then you are not ready for safari,” he said.

Kakele noted that direct air connectivity had been a long-standing challenge for travellers, and announced that Air Tanzania would launch its maiden flight between Dar es Salaam and Lagos on Sept. 19.

While acknowledging concerns about the high cost of intra-African travel, he said Tanzania had put tourism-friendly policies in place, and was working to encourage service providers to keep prices competitive.

Kakele pledged stronger engagement at future editions of Akwaaba.

He added that while government tourism bodies participated actively this year, Tanzania would push for greater involvement of the private sector.

NAN also reports that AFTM, which opened with exhibitions, has featured a culinary competition tagged the ‘Jollof Rice War,’ a B2B session, dance presentations from the Calabar Carnival Festival and Ekpe masqueraders, raffle draws and panels. 

NAN