Zanzibar recorded 100,216 international tourist arrivals in January 2026, a 19.2% increase from 84,069 visitors in the same month last year, according to data released by the Office of the Chief Government Statistician. The figure represents a slight 0.5% decline from December 2025's 100,729 arrivals, suggesting the archipelago has reached a stable high-season plateau above the 100,000 mark.

European tourists drove the numbers, accounting for 69,652 visitors or 69.5% of the total. Italy led source markets with 14,472 arrivals, followed by France at 6,916 and Poland at 6,705. Visitors from emerging markets including India, Russia, Israel, China, and Ukraine collectively declined 1.5% compared to December.

Air travel remained the dominant entry point, with 92,580 visitors arriving by plane — split between 71,344 on international flights and 21,236 on domestic connections. Seaport arrivals added 7,636 visitors, including 581 cruise ship passengers.

Accommodation metrics point to strong demand across the island's hotel sector. The average length of stay held at eight nights, while bed occupancy reached 87.5%, with 800,124 of 913,911 available bed-nights filled during the month.

The results reinforce Zanzibar's growing weight within Tanzania's broader tourism economy. The semi-autonomous archipelago has benefited from sustained international marketing, expanded airline routes, and a wave of new hotel investment that has increased room supply without diluting occupancy rates. For the mainland, Zanzibar's performance underscores the value of the domestic air link — more than 21,000 visitors transited through mainland airports before reaching the islands, generating secondary economic impact across Dar es Salaam and other gateway cities.