Headline indicators from the sector report, with benchmarks and sources. Full time series, charts and country comparisons are in the subscriber platform.
International Tourist Arrivals
south-africa · actual
10.48M
2025 · million arrivals
Benchmark 2019: 10.20M
2018–2025 · 2024 to 2025 +17.5%
Values for 2018–2025
2018
10.5
observed
2019
10.2
observed
2020
—
missing
2021
—
missing
2022
—
missing
2023
—
missing
2024
8.92
observed
2025
10.5
observed
2025 new series high; 2024 = 8.92M (87.4% of 2019); 2020 −62.7%; 2026 = Q1 only, not annualised.
Definition & source
Non-resident visitors who spend at least one night in the country (UN Tourism overnight standard as adopted by Stats SA); same-day visitors and transit passengers are excluded.
Methodology: Stats SA filters Home Affairs border-crossing records by purpose and duration of stay (30.8M total crossings in 2024 → 8.92M tourists).
Source: Stats SA Tourism Report 2024 (03-51-02); Stats SA P0350; SONA 2026 (p.14)
Average Length of Stay
south-africa · cohort_only
Cohort-level only
No continuous national series published; SADC-origin ~13 nights (VFR ~74% of arrivals), overseas long-haul 14–19 nights.
Definition & source
Mean nights per international tourist (visitor-nights ÷ arrivals); most useful disaggregated by origin region.
Methodology: Stats SA does not publish a continuous national ALOS series; cohort figures come from surveys and ministerial statements.
Source: Stats SA; SAT Exit Survey; Ministerial statement May 2023 (p.15)
International Air Passenger Arrivals
south-africa · partial
≈98.1% of 2019
2025 · million passengers
Benchmark 2019: 5.65M
2025 near-full recovery (98.1% of 2019); 2026 = Q1 only. OR Tambo leads; Cape Town 113% of pre-COVID; King Shaka 62%.
Definition & source
International air passenger arrivals across ACSA-operated airports (reported on an April–March financial year; arrivals ≈50% of total movements).
Source: Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) Integrated Annual Report FY2024 (p.16)
Tourism Receipts (Local Currency, ZAR)
south-africa · actual
R102bn
2025 · ZAR bn
Benchmark 2019: R122bn
2019–2025 · 2024 to 2025 -10.5%
Values for 2019–2025
2019
122
observed
2020
—
missing
2021
—
missing
2022
—
missing
2023
—
missing
2024
114
observed
2025
102
observed
2025 anomaly: record arrivals yet direct spend fell 18.6% to R102bn (83.6% of 2019); 2024 ≈ R114bn (93.4% of 2019).
Definition & source
Direct international visitor spend in rand (SAT methodology).
Source: South African Tourism Q4 2023/24 Performance Report; SARB (p.17)
Tourism Receipts (USD)
south-africa · actual
$6.43bn
2024 · USD bn
Benchmark 2019: $10.73bn
2019–2024
Values for 2019–2024
2019
10.7
observed
2020
2.75
observed
2021
—
missing
2022
—
missing
2023
—
missing
2024
6.43
observed
2024 constant-USD receipts = 59.9% of 2019; nominal 2024 $6.373bn (75.8% of 2019); 2025 not yet published.
Definition & source
International visitor receipts in USD (constant Jan 2026 and nominal); Africa INSIGHTS derived from UN Tourism / WTTC.
Source: UN Tourism; WTTC (Africa INSIGHTS derived) (p.18)
Average Spend per Visitor
south-africa · actual
$720
2024 · USD per visitor
Benchmark 2019: $1,049
2019–2024
Values for 2019–2024
2019
1049
observed
2020
—
missing
2021
—
missing
2022
—
missing
2023
—
missing
2024
720
observed
Fell 31.4% in constant USD between 2019 and 2024 despite volume recovery — the value gap is compositional (SADC VFR growth).
Definition & source
Africa INSIGHTS derived: tourism receipts ÷ international tourist arrivals, in constant January 2026 USD.
Source: Africa INSIGHTS derived (UN Tourism receipts / Stats SA arrivals) (p.19)
Tourism Contribution to GDP
south-africa · estimate
8.9% total · 4.9% direct
2025 · % of GDP
Benchmark 2019: 9.5% total
2019–2025
Values for 2019–2025
2019
9.5
observed
2020
5.7
observed
2021
—
missing
2022
—
missing
2023
—
missing
2024
—
missing
2025
8.9
observed
Total 0.6pp below 2019; direct 4.9% is a record (vs 3.5% in 2019). Government target: 10% total by 2030.
Definition & source
WTTC Travel & Tourism direct and total contribution to GDP.
Source: WTTC Economic Impact Research 2024; Stats SA (p.20)
Tourism Employment
south-africa · actual
954k (5.7%)
2024 · 000s direct jobs
Benchmark 2019: 795k (4.8%)
2019–2024
Values for 2019–2024
2019
795
observed
2020
475
observed
2021
—
missing
2022
—
missing
2023
—
missing
2024
954
observed
Direct jobs exceed the 2019 baseline (≈1 in 18 workers); total T&T 1.68M in 2024; 2025 not yet published.
Definition & source
WTTC direct Travel & Tourism jobs and share of national employment.
Source: WTTC South Africa Economic Impact Research 2024; Stats SA TSA 2025 (p.21)
Hotel Occupancy Rate
south-africa · partial
56.6% (Dec 2025)
2025 · %
Benchmark 2019: 49.8%
2019–2025 · 2024 to 2025 +12.3 pp
Values for 2019–2025
2019
49.8
observed
2020
12.5
observed
2021
—
missing
2022
—
missing
2023
—
missing
2024
44.3
observed
2025
56.6
partial
2024 full-year 44.3%; Dec 2025 monthly 56.6%, YTD Aug 59.4%; Cape Town outlier 62.6%. No full-year 2025 rate published.
Definition & source
National occupancy across all formal accommodation (not hotels only).
Source: Stats SA Accommodation Statistics; STR; Mordor Intelligence (p.22)
Published reports are temporarily unavailable.
Subscriber intelligence
South Africa
Travel and Tourism
This intelligence lives in the subscriber platform. Public pages show teasers only.
Latest arrivals
10.48M 2025 Observed
Next-year forecast
Locked
Subscriber intelligence
Forward forecast
Locked
Subscriber intelligence
Investment outlook
Locked
Subscriber intelligence
AI analysis
Locked
Subscriber intelligence
Pro: $20 per month / $200 per year. Enterprise: Pricing shown at checkout. Custom: Pricing shown at checkout.