In November 2023, South Africa witnessed a substantial influx of travellers, with a total of 2,582,023 individuals (including arrivals, departures, and transits) entering and exiting the country.
SA tourism on the upswing: Here are the stats for November 2023
This figure comprised 25.1% South African residents and a notable 74.9% foreign travellers. Of these foreign arrivals, 1,015,584 were visitors, including 260% same-day visitors and a significant 740% overnight visitors (tourists).
The composition of overseas tourists showed a diverse international interest, with 267% (195,549) of all tourists coming from overseas.
The United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States of America were the top contributors, making up 46.2% of overseas tourists.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) contributed a whopping 71.1% (520,322) of all tourists, with Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Lesotho leading the contributions.
Additionally, tourists from ‘other’ African countries (non-SADC) accounted for 2.0% (14,647) of all tourists.
The majority of these tourists, about 96.3%, visited South Africa for holiday purposes.
This category includes those who come for vacation, visiting friends and relatives, shopping, and other personal reasons such as attending weddings.
Year-on-year comparisons between November 2022 and November 2023 highlight a positive trend in tourism.
For South African residents, the volume of arrivals increased by 141%, departures by 147%, and transits by 100%. More significantly, for foreign travellers, arrivals increased by a remarkable 242%, departures by 297%, and transits by 273%.
Further analysis of visitor types reveals an increase in both same-day visitors and tourists.
In November 2023, there were 257,191 same-day visitors and 731,677 tourists. The volume of same-day visitors rose by 78% from October 2023 to November 2023, and by an impressive 457% from November 2022 to November 2023.
Similarly, the number of tourists increased by 0.1% from October 2023 and by a striking 293% from November 2022.
Tourism plays a crucial role in South Africa’s economy, contributing significantly to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The sector not only generates revenue through direct spending by tourists but also supports a wide range of industries, including hospitality, transportation, and retail.
The influx of international visitors has a multiplier effect, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth across various sectors.
The sustained increase in tourist numbers, as seen in the latest statistics, indicates a healthy and growing contribution of tourism to the South African economy.
