On 18th October 2024, Tanzania won the title of Africa’s Leading Destination and three other titles at the World Travel Awards 2024.
Speaking at the awards reception event, the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Hon. Ambassador Pindi Chana, attributed the achievement to President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s dedication to promoting Tanzanian tourism through the Royal Tour documentary and the strong collaboration between the ministry and tourism stakeholders nationwide.
“The recognition through these awards is a direct result of joint efforts to develop and elevate our country’s tourism. We thank President Samia for the Royal Tour and look forward to launching the Amazing Tanzania campaign,” added Minister Chana.
The minister emphasized the awards’ significance, noting that they not only enhance Tanzania’s image and attract more tourists, particularly from strategic markets, but also boost the national economy through increased foreign exchange, conservation efforts, and job creation across the tourism sector.
On his part, Dr. Hassan Abbas, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, added that the awards represent a national success.
He highlighted: “Winning against such international competition is no small feat. We are immensely grateful for President Samia’s Royal Tour initiative, along with the vision of our ministry leadership and the dedication of conservationists who maintain our resources, especially iconic sites like Serengeti and Mount Kilimanjaro.”
The Deputy Permanent Secretary for Tourism Nkoba Mabula highlighted that these awards confirm Tanzania’s attraction as a world-class destination, underscoring the nation’s reputation both in Africa and globally.
The awards include:
-Africa’s Leading Destination 2024 for Tanzania.
-Africa’s Leading Tourist Board 2024 for the Tanzania’s Tourist Board.
-Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction 2024 for Mount Kilimanjaro, earning this title for the sixth time, following previous wins in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and now again in 2024.
-Africa’s Leading National Park 2024 for Serengeti National Park winning this award for the sixth consecutive year, with an uninterrupted streak since 2019.
Tanzania’s Tourism Sector
In 2023, tourist arrivals to Tanzania increased by 24.3% to a record-breaking 1,808,205, from 1,454,920 tourists in 2022, 922,692 in 2021, and 616,491 in 2020.
Tanzania’s tourism receipts reached a record-high USD 3,368.7 million in 2023, compared to USD 2,527.8 million in 2022 (USD 1,310.3 million in 2021).
By the year-end August 2024, Tanzania had received 2,026,378 international tourists—the highest number ever recorded in the country—generating US$ 3.5 billion in revenue.
Tourism now contributes 17.2% to Tanzania’s GDP and 29% to Zanzibar’s GDP. The sector accounts for 25% of the country’s foreign exchange earnings and has created 1.5 million jobs, direct and indirect jobs.
