Seashore Villa, a four-star hotel in Zanzibar founded by Georgian entrepreneur Tiko Chubabria, has recorded a 20% decline in tourist demand this year compared with last year. The owner says the drop is mainly linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, flight disruptions, and higher air ticket prices.
The hotel’s main markets are Northern European countries, including Germany, the UK, Sweden, France, and Italy. Georgian visitors currently make up only a small share of guests, as higher travel costs have affected demand. Chubabria said she expects interest from Georgian travelers to recover following the restoration of flights.
Despite the overall decline, the hotel is operating at 80-90% occupancy during Zanzibar’s high season. Last year, occupancy exceeded 100%, and the hotel had to redirect some guests to nearby properties. The owner noted that reduced tourist numbers are affecting the wider Zanzibar market as well.
During the low season, which lasts around three months, average occupancy falls to about 30%. Room rates at Seashore Villa are around $90 per night during the high season and approximately $70 in the low season, depending on the room category.
