Tanzania has set an ambitious target of attracting eight million international tourists annually by the year 2030, according to Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr Pindi Chana. The announcement was made during the launch of Ngorongoro Day, commemorated within the framework of the 49th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF), held on Friday.

Addressing attendees, Dr Chana reported that the 2024/2025 tourism season recorded five million tourist arrivals, reflecting a marked growth trajectory. Achieving the projected eight million target, she stated, would require the enhancement of service delivery across the sector and a sustained intensification of both domestic and international tourism promotion.

Central to the country’s recent success has been a suite of government-led promotional campaigns, including the Royal Tour documentary, in which President Samia Suluhu Hassan personally showcased Tanzania’s ecological and cultural wealth. Complementing this was the Amazing Tanzania campaign, designed to amplify global awareness of the country’s unique biodiversity and rich heritage.

Tanzania, globally renowned for its conservation-driven tourism model, continues to draw interest due to flagship sites such as the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Speaking at the event, Ms Latifa Khamis, Director General of the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade), underscored the Ngorongoro area’s distinctive character. She highlighted it as a location where the co-existence of wildlife and indigenous human populations demonstrates a successful, long-term ecological balance that resonates with international conservation audiences.

Tanzania’s broader tourism portfolio includes the Serengeti National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar’s Stone Town, all of which contribute significantly to the national economy. The tourism sector remains a cornerstone of Tanzania’s development strategy, accounting for approximately 17.2 percent of GDP and 25 percent of foreign exchange earnings, according to the Bank of Tanzania.

Efforts to scale the sector further align with Tanzania’s Vision 2025 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, both of which stress sustainable development and regional integration through ecological tourism and cultural preservation.

The government’s emphasis on policy cohesion, public-private partnerships, and infrastructure development is expected to underpin the envisioned growth, ensuring that tourism continues to act as a key driver of employment and inclusive growth in both urban and rural contexts.

As global travel rebounds in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tanzania’s proactive approach to destination branding and environmental stewardship places it in a strong position to meet its 2030 objectives.