Efforts by the Government of Zanzibar to attract more tourists to the archipelago are gaining strong momentum after the Isles scooped three prestigious honours at the World Travel Awards Africa Gala Ceremony 2026, held in Zanzibar.
The Government of Zanzibar is implementing a number of strategies aimed at achieving its vision of attracting more than one million visitors to the Isles before 2030.
With the latest awards, Zanzibar continues to carve out a successful niche as one of Africa’s leading tourism destinations, reflecting growing international recognition of its attractions, cultural heritage and diverse tourism products.
During the awards ceremony held in Bwejuu, South Unguja, Zanzibar was named Africa’s Leading Beach Destination 2026, Africa’s Leading Festival & Events Destination 2026 and Africa’s Leading Regional Tourism Board 2026.
The awards recognise Zanzibar’s position among Africa’s leading tourism destinations and the collective efforts of the Government and tourism stakeholders to promote and develop the sector.
Acting Minister for Tourism and Heritage, Mr Mudrik Ramadhani Soraga, said the awards were a source of pride for Zanzibar and reflected the archipelago’s unique beauty, rich cultural heritage and the hospitality of its people.
He said the recognition also demonstrated the positive results of strategies being implemented to strengthen tourism, one of the key sectors driving Zanzibar’s economic growth.
“Zanzibar is famous for its spectacular beaches, unique history and culture, as well as festivals and various events that attract visitors from different parts of the world,” Mr Soraga said.
According to him, winning the three awards highlights Zanzibar’s progress in improving tourism services and promoting its attractions in international markets.
Tourism stakeholders, including tour operators, development partners and various institutions, also welcomed the recognition, saying the awards acknowledge the contribution of different players towards the growth and promotion of Zanzibar’s tourism industry.
Kombo Hamad Salim, a tour operator, described the recognition as a collective achievement involving all stakeholders who continue to promote and support Zanzibar as a leading tourism destination.
He said cooperation among stakeholders had been an important pillar behind the achievements recorded by the Isles.
According to tourism stakeholders, the latest awards are expected to provide further momentum for developing the sector, improving tourism services and strengthening Zanzibar’s position in the increasingly competitive African and global tourism markets.
Zanzibar also performed strongly at the World Travel Awards Africa & Indian Ocean ceremony held in Dar es Salaam in 2025, where it won Africa’s Leading Beach Destination and Africa’s Leading Festival & Events Destination.
The addition of the Africa’s Leading Regional Tourism Board award this year marks further progress and underscores Zanzibar’s growing recognition on the international tourism stage.