The best holiday destination of 2025 has been dubbed the ‘new Magaluf’ as thousands of British tourists flock to its golden beaches – lured by £1 pints, £4 meals, and a rapidly growing party scene.
Zanzibar, in Tanzania, has been awarded Best International Vacation Spot by digital travel platform Travel Noire – and has become a hotspot not only for its natural beauty and rich history, but also for tourists seeking sun, sand, and affordable nightlife.
Travel Noire praised the East African hotspot for its ‘maze-like streets housing architectural marvels’, ‘spectacular coastline’, and ‘world-beating street food’, describing it as the ‘jewel of East Africa’ and the continent’s ‘cultural heartbeat’.
But beyond the hype, locals have raised concerns about the impact of mass tourism on the city’s culture and traditions – particularly from younger visitors travelling for so-called ‘sex tourism’.
Speaking to the Telegraph, one guide from the mostly-Muslim archipelago said: ‘There is an issue with sex tourism. Some women from Europe come here to meet with beach boys and engage in prostitution.’
Another guide, named Abdalla, added: ‘Our children try to copy their style, their culture. That’s not good at all.’
Once seen as an under-the-radar destination, the city has experienced a sharp surge in international arrivals thanks to its pristine beaches, affordable accommodation, vibrant nightlife and year-round tropical climate.
According to recent statistics by Luxury tour operator Scott Dunn, ‘up-and-coming’ Zanzibar has experienced an astonishing 83 per cent surge in bookings among its wealthy clientele.
The best holiday destination of 2025, Zanzibar (pictured) has been dubbed the ‘new Magaluf’ as thousands of British tourists flock to its golden beaches – lured by £1 pints, £4 meals, and a rapidly growing party scene
But beyond the hype, locals have raised concerns about the impact of mass tourism on the city’s culture and traditions – particularly from younger visitors travelling for so-called ‘sex tourism’
Zanzibar locals have complained of visitors arriving ‘with a beer in each hand’ (Pictured: European tourists relaxing at the beach bar in the swimming pool in Zanzibar)
One of the key attractions drawing British tourists to Zanzibar City is its unbeatable drink deals.
Not only can you get pints from as little as £1.06, according to PintPrice, but Hikers Bay says you can get a meal in an affordable restaurant in the city from as little as £3.84.
There are also affordable prices on accommodation options, with one budget double room for two adults on Booking.com, amounting to just £13 per night – that’s a cool £6.50 per person.
But while Travel Noire celebrated the city’s blend of Swahili, Arab, Indian, and European influences, some locals say the cultural exchange feels one-sided.
According to the Daily Star, locals have complained of visitors arriving ‘with a beer in each hand’.
It comes amid similar complaints of rowdy behaviour from British visitors echoed in popular European holiday destinations such as Amsterdam and Spain, along with far-flung destinations like Bali and Thailand.
As anti-tourism protests continue to rock Spanish hotspots such as Alicante, Barcelona and Mallorca, a new survey has found that more than half of British holidaymakers actively avoided Spain this summer.
The research, from eSIM phone network Slice Mobile, polled over 2,000 travellers from across the UK, and nearly eight out of 10 said these demonstrations had made Spain a less appealing option – despite 70 per cent admitting it had traditionally been their go-to getaway.
While Travel Noire celebrated the city’s blend of Swahili, Arab, Indian, and European influences, some locals say the cultural exchange feels one-sided
One of the key attractions drawing British tourists to Zanzibar City is its white sand beaches, affordable accommodation and unbeatable drink deals
Younger generations are leading the charge in booking alternative destinations, with 68 per cent of Gen Z and 62 per cent of millennials the most likely to have ditched Spain this year – including a whopping 78 per cent of 18 to 19-year-olds.
While boomers are swapping the Costas for the Amalfi Coast, young Brits are opting for far-flung destinations such as Dubai, which emerged as the top choice for 27 per cent of Gen Z travellers, compared to just 2 per cent of boomers.
The United States also proved popular with the younger crowd (23 per cent of Gen Z versus 6 per cent of boomers) – highlighting a generational shift toward more adventurous, long-haul destinations outside of the EU.
But claiming the crown as Britain’s ultimate alternative to Spain this summer is Italy, which drew in almost a fifth of those surveyed.
