The 4th edition of the Z-Summit, Zanzibar’s premier travel and tourism marketplace, officially opened today at the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA), Tunguu, drawing a strong regional and international presence and reinforcing the archipelago’s growing stature as a leading tourism and investment destination in Africa.
The two-day trade platform, which runs from February 11–12, has attracted over 120 exhibitors and more than 300 hosted buyers from over 20 countries, reflecting the event’s steady expansion and rising global appeal.
Dominic Shoo, Senior Managing Director and co-organiser of KILIFAIR Promotion Company Ltd and the Z-Summit, described the milestone as evidence of the platform’s increasing relevance on the continental tourism calendar.
“This fourth edition has attracted over 120 exhibitors and 300 buyers from more than 20 countries,” Shoo disclosed during the official opening ceremony. “It reflects the growing level of interest in Z-Summit over the years and confirms Zanzibar’s position as a serious player in the regional and global tourism marketplace.”
The Chairman of the Zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors (ZATI), Suleiman Mohammed, underscored the strategic importance of the summit to the private sector.
“The 4th edition of Z-Summit marks a proud milestone, reflecting how this platform has grown into a trusted regional forum for investment, collaboration and innovation in tourism,” he said.
Since its inception, Z-Summit has evolved beyond a trade exhibition into a dynamic marketplace that integrates exhibitions, educational seminars, interactive workshops, B2B meetings and destination experiences designed to convert dialogue into tangible business transactions.
In officially inaugurating the summit, the Principal Secretary for Tourism and Heritage, Zanzibar, Aboud Suleiman Jumbe, delivered a comprehensive overview of the islands’ tourism performance and investment trajectory, signalling government readiness to deepen partnerships with the private sector.
“I will very much depend on the outcome of all these exhibitions, interactive workshops, educational seminars, fam trips, sightseeing tours and most of all dialogue and exchanges to further expand our tourism and investment ecosystem,” he said. “We need to transform ourselves in facilitating more innovative and transactional business partnerships that connect us with the rest of the world while supporting tourism diversification and value creation.”
Jumbe highlighted that under the leadership of President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, Zanzibar has reinforced its commitment to enabling private sector growth, accelerating public-private partnerships and advancing sustainable, quality-driven tourism development.
He revealed that 2025 marked a historic peak for Zanzibar’s tourism industry, with international arrivals nearing one million visitors for the year. The sector recorded overall growth of 7.1 percent, with tourism receipts exceeding US$1.1 billion.
The year also saw Zanzibar collecting more travel and tourism awards than ever before, expanding its source markets and strengthening aviation connectivity while entering global top-10 destination rankings in selected categories, including honeymoon and high-end resort travel.
According to data from the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA), more than 1,300 investment projects have been registered across the islands, with a combined value of US$14.3 billion. Tourism accounts for over 50 percent of this investment ecosystem.
In the last five years alone, over 590 projects have been registered, attracting upwards of US$6.8 billion in capital investment and generating more than 30,000 jobs for youth, women and local communities.
Jumbe also outlined major infrastructure and diversification initiatives, including airport terminal expansions, road development, modernised public facilities and upgrades to water and energy systems. Zanzibar is also positioning itself for sports tourism ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations tournament next year.
Beyond leisure tourism, the government is prioritising diversification into cultural heritage, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions), digital nomad programmes, culinary and spice tourism, marine and coastal investments, halal tourism, wellness travel, wildlife experiences and community-based tourism.
“Digital innovation is not just hype anymore but a pathway towards national success and a digital economy,” Jumbe noted, referencing the presence of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras campus in Zanzibar as a symbol of the islands’ technological ambition.
He concluded by officially inaugurating the fourth edition of Z-Summit, expressing appreciation for the energy, collaboration and hospitality displayed by participants.
This year’s Z-Summit has drawn a significant delegation from Ghana, led by the Tour Operators Union of Ghana (TOUGHA). The Union’s President, Yvonne Donkor, addressed the opening ceremony, reinforcing the growing tourism ties between West and East Africa and signalling new opportunities for intra-African travel partnerships.
The presence of tour operators, investors, destination marketers, hoteliers and aviation stakeholders from across Africa and beyond underscores a broader continental push toward stronger regional integration and cross-border tourism trade.
Z-Summit 2026 concludes on February 12 with scheduled post-event familiarisation tours for international buyers and exhibitors, offering first-hand experiences of Zanzibar’s tourism products — from its UNESCO-listed Stone Town to its beaches, spice farms and emerging investment sites.
