Tanzania: Tanzania Confident of Hitting 7m Tourist Arrivals Target

What the report says

Tanzania’s natural resources and tourism minister, Ashatu Kijaji, said the country believes it can reach a target of seven million tourist arrivals this year. She made the remarks in Dodoma during the 2026 National and International Nane Nane Exhibition, pointing to stronger tourism infrastructure, improved access to destinations, and what she described as the country’s stable security environment.

According to Daily News, Kijaji said recent arrival trends suggest the goal is within reach. She highlighted completed and ongoing transport projects meant to make major parks easier to access, including the airstrip at Nyerere National Park, the completed Ruaha Airstrip, and the expected completion of Mikumi Airstrip later this year. The ministry has also cited road and trail upgrades, along with new visitor rest areas and entry gates in protected areas, as part of efforts to support tourism growth.

The broader policy backdrop is Tanzania’s longer-term plan to raise international arrivals to eight million by 2030 and to position tourism as a major contributor to export earnings and economic growth. The article also notes that tourism receipts rose in 2025, with visitor spending increasing faster than arrivals, suggesting a shift toward higher-value tourism.

A senior ministry official, Nkoba Mabula, said the longer-term strategic plan will depend on coordination between public and private sector players. In that context, the seven-million target is presented not only as a visitor goal but also as part of Tanzania’s wider development strategy.