Home » Africa » Tanzania saw record growth in travel and tourism last year, according to a new World Travel and Tourism Council report
Thursday, June 27, 2024
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The 2024 Economic Impact Study (EIR) conducted by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) highlights the significant growth of Tanzania’s travel and tourism industry. Last year, the sector contributed a record 18.6 trillion Tanzanian shillings to the country’s GDP, up 4% from its 2019 peak and accounting for 9.5% of total economic output.
In terms of expenditure, 2023 will see unprecedented levels of spending by both international and domestic visitors, reaching 8 trillion Tanzanian shillings and 3.7 trillion Tanzanian shillings respectively, 11.1% and 12.8% higher than 2019 figures.
Employment numbers also increased significantly, with more than 1.4 million people employed in the sector, but are still 7.4% lower than the 2019 peak.
Looking ahead to 2024, the WTTC predicts continued growth, with the tourism sector’s economic contribution expected to reach 20.3 trillion Tshs, roughly 10% of Tanzania’s GDP. Spending by international visitors is forecast to grow 8.5% to 8.7 trillion Tshs, while domestic spending is expected to exceed 3.9 trillion Tshs.
Travel and tourism jobs are expected to exceed 1.5 million this year, further cementing the sector’s role as a major employment driver in Tanzania.
By 2034, the industry is expected to expand significantly to 30.9 trillion Tanzanian shillings and support about 2.25 million jobs, equivalent to one in every 15 Tanzanian workers.
WTTC Chairman and CEO Julia Simpson said: “Tanzania’s travel and tourism sector is growing from strength to strength, contributing record numbers to the national economy.
“This underscores the important role the sector plays in driving economic development and job creation, with continued growth and employment gains predicted for the coming years.”
