South Africans continue to flock to Zanzibar, according to the island’s latest tourism statistics, despite a mandatory insurance fee that was put in place last year.
From September 1, 2024, the Zanzibar government implemented a mandatory $44 (R805) insurance fee for all foreign tourists. The fee is paid per person on arrival, as reported by Travel News.
Initially, tour operators anticipated that the extra cost would be off-putting to South African travellers. However, according to the Office of the Chief Government Statistician Zanzibar, the island welcomed 91 611 international visitors in December, a 30,5% increase from the same period last year.
South Africa emerged as Zanzibar’s second-largest market after Europe, contributing 7,9% of all arrivals. This marks a modest increase from December 2023, when South Africans accounted for 7,2% of arrivals.
Marjan Sandu, Director of AfricaStay, a tour operator that specialises in packaging Zanzibar (including charter flights) for the South African market, confirmed the upward trend.
“With regards to the mandatory insurance, I think people have accepted the whole thing.” Sandu said the fee had had less of an effect than expected because Zanzibar offered a discount just before the festive season, allowing tourists from SADC countries to pay $22 (R400) rather than the full rate.
