According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), approximately 835,000 overnight tourists arrived in South Africa in September. This represents a 1.3% decrease compared to the same period last year and a significant 17% drop from August. The decline in tourist visits is attributed to a decrease in overseas visitors, while strong numbers from neighboring countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region helped to keep the year's overall numbers on track.
The majority of tourists visiting South Africa in September came from within the SADC region, accounting for nearly eight in ten visitors. Mozambique led the way with 183,000 visiting tourists, followed closely by Zimbabwe with 179,000 visitors. Lesotho was a standout, with a 22% increase in visitors compared to the same period last year. This suggests that South Africa's tourism industry remains strong within the regional market.
In contrast, the number of tourists visiting from outside Africa declined by 11% in September, with approximately 162,000 overseas tourists arriving. This decrease may be attributed to various factors, including global economic trends and travel restrictions. However, it is worth noting that 97.5% of tourists visiting South Africa in September did so for holiday purposes.
The majority of tourists, 75%, traveled to South Africa by road, with Lebombo and Beitbridge being the busiest ports of entry. However, Stats SA notes that some ports still have missing data due to poor network coverage, which may result in an undercount of tourist visits. This highlights the need for improved data collection and infrastructure to accurately track tourist trends.
Despite the decline in tourist visits, the South African tourism industry remains a significant contributor to the country's economy. The sector has been working to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the current numbers suggest a mixed performance. The strong numbers from neighboring countries in the SADC region are a positive sign, but the decline in overseas visitors is a concern.
The South African government has been implementing various initiatives to boost tourism, including marketing campaigns and visa facilitation. These efforts aim to attract more visitors and make it easier for them to travel to the country. However, the sector still faces challenges, including infrastructure and service delivery issues.
Stats SA will continue to monitor and report on tourist trends, providing valuable insights for the industry and policymakers. The data will help inform strategies to support the growth of the tourism sector and its contribution to the South African economy.
Key points
- Overseas tourist visits to South Africa declined by 11% in September.
- Neighbouring SADC countries accounted for nearly 80% of tourist visits.
- Some ports have missing tourist data due to poor network coverage.
