Travel and stay
Getting to Zanzibar
The Expo runs 24 to 26 September 2026 at the Golden Tulip Airport Hotel & Spa, minutes from the international airport, with the summit halls, exhibition floor and reception all on one site.
Arriving
Flights, visas and entry
Zanzibar is well connected regionally and through the Gulf. The entry requirements are the part worth sorting early.
Flying in
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) sits a few minutes from the venue. Regular connections run through Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Doha and Addis Ababa, with seasonal direct services from Europe.
Visas
Most visitors need a visa. Apply online in advance where you can, rather than relying on processing at the border. Requirements depend on your nationality, so check the official Tanzanian immigration guidance before booking.
Insurance on arrival
Zanzibar requires inbound foreign visitors to hold a local travel insurance policy, bought through the designated provider and separate from cover you hold at home. It is checked on arrival. Confirm the current rules before you travel.
Health
A yellow fever certificate is required if you arrive from or transit a risk country. Take malaria advice from a travel clinic in good time.
Check before you travelEntry rules change. Nothing on this page is a substitute for the official Tanzanian immigration and Zanzibar health authority guidance, and you should confirm your own requirements before booking flights.
Visas
Check whether you need one before you book
The organizers list the following nationalities as requiring a visa for Tanzania. Apply in advance rather than relying on processing at the border.
- Afghanistan
- Australia
- Bangladesh
- Burkina Faso
- Chad
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Iran
- Iraq
- Kyrgyz Republic
- Lebanon
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Palestine
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uzbekistan
- Yemen
Guidance, not a rulingThis list is reproduced from the organizers' travel information and is a starting point, not an authority. It does not distinguish between a visa on arrival and one you must hold before you fly, and immigration rules change without notice. Not appearing on this list is not confirmation that you need no visa. Confirm your own requirements with the Tanzanian immigration service before booking flights.
Where to stay
25 hotels, from the venue to Stone Town
The Golden Tulip is the host venue, so staying there puts you a lift ride from the halls. Everything else is ordered by distance from the airport, then by price.
| Hotel | From (per person, per night) | From airport | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Tulip Airport HotelVenue | $150 | 0.24 km | +255 777 600 060 |
| Airport Palace Inn | $250 | 1 km | +255 777 688 461 |
| Madinat Al Bahr Business & Spa Hotel | $250 | 2.27 km | +255 658 931 393 |
| Zanzibar Beach Resort | $300 | 3 km | +255 688 058 365 |
| Protea Hotel by Marriott Zanzibar Mbweni Ruins | $200 | 3.5 km | +255 777 600 060 |
| New Amaan Hotel | from $85 | 10 km | +255 677 151 843 |
| Park Hyatt Zanzibar | $300-$600 | 6 km+ | +255 245 501 234 |
| Zanzibar Serena Hotel | $200-$400 | 6 km+ | +255 744 440 011 |
| Zanzibar Palace Hotel | $150-$300 | 6 km+ | +255 242 232 230 |
| Spice Tree by Turaco Zanzibar | $150-$300 | 6 km+ | +255 779 000 141 |
| Emerson Spice Hotel | $150-$250 | 6 km+ | +255 (0) 242 232 784 |
| The Seyyida Hotel & Spa | $120-$250 | 6 km+ | +255 242 238 352 |
| Jafferji House & Spa | $100-$250 | 6 km+ | +255 773 284 084 |
| Hotel Verde Zanzibar | $100-$200 | 6 km+ | +255 242 250 140 |
| Maru Maru Hotel | $100-$200 | 6 km+ | +255 774 007 002 |
| Tembo House Hotel | $100-$200 | 6 km+ | +255 242 233 005 |
| The Swahili Hotel | $100-$200 | 6 km+ | +255 778 919 525 |
| Dhow Palace Hotel | $80-$180 | 6 km+ | +255 242 233 012 |
| Mzingani Seafront Hotel | $80-$180 | 6 km+ | +255 242 235 396 |
| Kholle House Boutique Hotel | $80-$150 | 6 km+ | +255 772 161 033 |
| Zanzibar Coffee House Hotel | $70-$130 | 6 km+ | +255 777 600 060 |
| Zanzibar Queen Hotel | $60-$120 | 6 km+ | +255 779 666 701 |
| Stone Town Cafe | $50-$120 | 6 km+ | +255 778 373 737 |
| Malindi Guest House | $50-$100 | 6 km+ | +255 773 340 470 |
| Smiles Stone Town Hotel | $40-$90 | 6 km+ | +255 718 367 676 |
Rates are indicativeThese are guide prices from the organizers' travel information, useful for budgeting and not a quote. Confirm the current rate directly with the hotel when you book. The negotiated delegate rate at the host hotel, the shuttle timetable and the airline delegate fare code are still being finalised, and are published here once confirmed. If you are booking now, email byte@techaiexpo.com and we will tell you where the delegate rate stands.
Getting around
Between the airport, your hotel and the venue
The shuttle
A shuttle runs between the airport, partner hotels and the venue across all three days, included for ticket holders. The timetable is published closer to the event.
Taxis
Readily available at the airport and across Stone Town. Agree the fare before setting off, since meters are not the norm.
The venue
The Golden Tulip Airport Hotel & Spa is roughly a quarter of a kilometre from the airport terminal, which is close enough to walk with light luggage. Open in Maps (opens in a new tab).
On the ground
Practical things worth knowing
Currency and payment
The Tanzanian shilling is the local currency and US dollars are widely accepted for tourism services. Card acceptance is good at hotels and poor at small traders, so carry some cash.
Language
Swahili and English are both official. English is used throughout the Expo and across the hospitality sector.
Power
230V, and the UK-style three-pin type G socket. Bring an adapter if you are coming from a two-pin country.
Climate in September
Warm and dry, at the end of the long dry season. Light clothing, but pack something for air conditioned halls and the evening reception.
Getting a local SIM
Prepaid data SIMs are cheap and sold at the airport and in Stone Town. Registration requires your passport.
Respectful dress
Zanzibar is predominantly Muslim. Beachwear is fine at resorts, but covering shoulders and knees away from them is expected and appreciated.
Common questions
Which airport do I fly into?
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar, airport code ZNZ. The venue is a few minutes away, which is the main reason it was chosen. You can also fly into Dar es Salaam and connect by short flight or ferry, though the direct route is simpler.
Do I need a visa?
Most visitors to Tanzania do. Options usually include applying online in advance or obtaining one on arrival, and what applies depends on your nationality and the purpose of your visit. Check the official Tanzanian immigration service for current requirements and apply early rather than relying on arrival processing.
Is travel insurance compulsory?
Zanzibar requires inbound foreign visitors to hold a local travel insurance policy, which is separate from any insurance you already have at home and is bought through the designated provider. This is checked on arrival. Confirm the current requirement and cost through official channels before you travel, because the scheme has changed since it was introduced.
Are there health requirements?
A yellow fever certificate is required if you are arriving from, or have recently transited, a country where yellow fever is a risk. Malaria precautions are sensible. Check current guidance with a travel clinic well before you fly.
How do I get from the airport to the venue?
A shuttle runs between the airport, partner hotels and the venue across all three days, and the timetable is published here closer to the event. Taxis are readily available at the airport in the meantime. Agree the fare before setting off.
Booked your trip?
Get your ticket sorted before you arrive. Day 3 needs a VIP or Reception pass, which is the one people miss.