Tui to expand in sub-Saharan Africa with new hotels and brand

Tui opened its fourth property on Zanzibar, The Mora Zanzibar, last week. The new luxury brand is added to the existing three hotels there under the Riu and Tui Blue brands. 

The operator said further projects on the archipelago “are in preparation”, including a new Robinson Club. 

It added: “The approach follows the example of Cape Verde off the coast of West Africa. In just a few years, Tui has developed a new holiday destination on the islands of Sal and Boa Vista, which is now one of the Group’s most popular year-round destinations.” 

Tui’s hotel business in Cape Verde would be expanded beyond these two islands “in the coming years”, it said. New openings are also set for Senegal and Gambia, while Kenya “is also on the growth list”.

Tui Group chief executive Sebastian Ebel said: "Africa has great potential: culturally, scenically and economically. Demographically, we are encountering a young, dynamic society, which is a decisive advantage for a service industry. 

“We are already represented on the west coast with Cape Verde and Senegal, and in the north with Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. Now another African cluster is being created on the east coast on the Indian Ocean. 

“We are taking a holistic approach - environmental, social and economic sustainability are at the heart of our strategy when developing new destinations." 

Ebel said he saw particular potential for the Robinson club brand and for Tui Blue, with two more Robinson Clubs confirmed on Zanzibar and Boa Vista. "The decisions have been made, the architects and designers are working. Construction will begin shortly," he said.

Tui boasts around 420 properties under its own brands. It said it saw potential “not only for guests from Europe, but also for new guests from North and South America and the Middle East”.