• TUI Group is opening seven new hotels across North, West and East Africa, raising its continental portfolio to 106 hotels and over 34,000 rooms in nine countries.
• The new assets include four hotels in North Africa, one in West Africa, and two luxury properties in Zanzibar scheduled to open by early 2026.
• Africa recorded 74 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, exceeding pre-Covid levels for the first time, according to UN Tourism.

TUI Group is expanding its African operations as international tourist arrivals on the continent continue to rise. The German hospitality giant announced on Monday, Nov. 24, that it has begun opening seven new hotels across three African subregions.

TUI confirmed that four hotels have joined its network in North Africa. The new properties include TUI Magic Life Redsina Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt with 521 rooms, JAZ Royal Palmariva with 505 rooms, JAZ Palmariva Beach with 339 rooms, and The Mora Sahara Tozeur, a desert resort in Tunisia that offers 93 rooms and independent villas.

In West Africa, the Hanover-based group opened a 140-room property in The Gambia named TUI Blue Tamala.

In East Africa, TUI said two luxury hotels will open in Zanzibar by early 2026: the Jaz Amaluna with 211 rooms and the Riu Palace Swahili with 500 rooms.

“These new openings allow us to reach new customer segments from emerging markets while offering the authentic, high-quality holiday experiences that define the TUI brand,” said executive board member Peter Krueger.

The seven openings will bring TUI’s African portfolio to 106 hotels and more than 34,000 rooms spread across nine countries, which significantly strengthens the group’s footprint on the continent.

TUI described Africa as an increasingly prominent destination for global travelers. The integrated tourism group — which includes tour operators, 1,200 travel agencies, more than 400 hotels, 18 cruise ships and five airlines — highlighted the continent’s cultural diversity, natural attractions and rising popularity among international tourists.

The expansion comes as African tourism recovery accelerates. UN Tourism reported that the continent recorded 74 million international arrivals in 2024, surpassing 2019 levels for the first time. Arrivals rose 7% above 2019 levels and 12% higher than in 2023, signaling a strong shift in global tourism flows toward Africa.

Walid Kéfi