south african tourism numbers

Tourism on South Africa tourism arrivals data from January to July 2023

South africa tourism arrivals on the rise: january to july 2023 data unveiled.

With the release of Statistics South Africa’s official international arrival figures for January to July 2023, South Africa’s rising momentum in the global travel industry is indisputably affirmed. The numbers speak for themselves. South Africa remains an attractive destination, for both domestic and international travellers. The country draws travellers with its unique blend of nature, culture, and history.  In a promising sign for the country’s tourism recovery, international tourist arrivals from January to July 2023 totalled 4.8 million. This represents a remarkable 70.6% increase when compared with the first seven months of 2022. While recovery towards pre-covid numbers is promising this is 19.0% lower compared to the same period in 2019. Our goal is to surpass pre-COVID arrival numbers and exceed 10 million arrivals by the end of March 2024 and the numbers thus far as encouraging as we gear up for a bumper summer season. African Markets Lead the Way Tourists from the rest of Africa constituted a significant 75.8% of all arrivals, equating to 3.6 million tourists during the January to July 2023 period.  Within the African region, Zimbabwe and Kenya stood out for their remarkable growth. Zimbabwe saw an exceptional 115.6% increase in tourist arrivals, totalling 1.2 million, while Kenya recorded a 110.2% surge, reaching 21,851 arrivals for January to July 2023 compared to the same period last year. European Markets Show Strength Europe contributed to 14.3% of the total arrivals, with 682,828 tourists visiting in the first seven months of 2023. This marks a 61.5% increase when compared to the same period last year.  The United Kingdom remains the top European source market with 204,885 tourists coming into SA marking a 45.7% growth.  Germany experienced a 73.3% increase in arrivals, amounting to 132,302 tourists. This was followed by the Netherlands which saw an increase 60% amounting to 68 421 visitors from this country. Russia exhibited a dramatic growth of 140.8%, contributing 15,179 arrivals. The Americas and Asia exhibit Strong Momentum Tourist arrivals from the Americas registered at 259,081, reflecting a 59.0% growth compared to the same period in 2022. The United States contributed the most, with 206,015 arrivals, marking a 54.5% increase.  Asian markets also showed significant growth with 112,243 arrivals —an astounding 91.2% increase over last year. In this region, India led the way with 47,905 tourists, a 70.6% growth, closely followed by China, which saw a massive 260.6% surge, amounting to 19,687 arrivals. Middle East Registers Solid Gains The Middle East saw a robust increase in tourist numbers, with 32,016 arrivals in the January to July 2023 period —a 63.6% growth when compared to the same period in 2022. South Africa received 9,425 arrivals from Saudi Arabia marking an increase of 59.3%. The United Arab Emirates showed a remarkable 139.6% growth, accounting for 3,923 arrivals. Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille said, “These latest figures underscore South Africa’s appeal as a sought-after leisure and business events destination. Africa as a source market continues to dominate in terms of arrivals and therefore solidified its position as a key contributor to our tourism industry.” Minister stated, “The rest of the African continent has always been vital to our tourism landscape, and strengthened ties. It is clear that more reviews and revisions of the immigration regulations and visa requirements are required as evidenced by the surge in arrivals from Kenya.  As of January 1, 2023, Kenyans enjoy visa-free travel to South Africa for a period of 90 days in a year. I look forward to continue working with the rest of my colleagues in government in this regard so that we can all attain mutual benefits of our collaborative initiatives.” Kenya’s remarkable can be attributed to the strategic decision to simplify the visa regime earlier this year as well as targeted and effective insights-driven marketing campaigns.  “The continued strength of established markets like the UK, US, and Germany cannot be overstated. While numerous factors can be attributed to this, direct flights have bolstered these numbers, reflecting not only the ease of connectivity but also the deep-rooted travel relationships South Africa enjoys with these nations,” the Minister said.   A standout in the latest figures is the notable resurgence from China. “The re-opening of the Chinese market and the initiation of direct flight routes have catalysed a resurgence in arrivals from this region, highlighting the vast potential and significance of this market to South African tourism,” Minister de Lille noted.  Domestic Tourism Back home, domestic tourism continues to show phenomenal growth contributing significantly to the country’s economy.   In the first half of 2023, South Africans took 18.8 million domestic overnight trips, up 23.4% when compared to the same period in 2022. Overnight spend was also up by 21.2% to reach R52.2 billion during this period.  “We are so pleased that over the years, we have managed to showcase our country’s wide variety and increase its appeal to domestic travellers. It is clear from the numbers that there is an increase in the culture of travel among South Africans. Domestic travellers have truly showcased their commitment to exploring their own country. Their travels bolster the local economy and support our communities. This uptick definitely emphasises the significance of nurturing domestic tourism,” Minister de Lille said. South Africa recently hosted the 15th BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, where over 50 heads of state were welcomed. This marked the largest assembly of heads of state outside of any presidential inauguration. With more than 1,000 delegates in attendance, the incident-free event was celebrated as a phenomenal success.  Our dedicated efforts to address and streamline processes enhance connectivity, and nurture strategic partnerships are truly paying off.  Our country offers also undeniable breath-taking landscapes, cultural richness, and unique offerings. Here’s to South Africa’s undiminished allure on the global tourism map,” Minister de Lille concluded. Enquiries: Zara Nicholson Ministry Media Liaison Officer, Cell: +27 (0) 79 416 5996  Email: [email protected] OR Thandiwe Mathibela  Tel: +27 11 895 3177  Email: [email protected]    Email: [email protected]   Website: www.southafrica.net

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Tourist arrivals statistics is sourced from administrative sources of the Department of Home Affairs. The Department of Home Affairs has the jurisdiction to collect information on legal movements across the borders of South Africa. This information is then processed, analysed and published by Statistics South Africa in its monthly Tourism & Migration statistical releases. For more information please visit www.statssa.gov.za .  

This report displays statistics published by Statistics South Africa in its monthly Tourism & Migration statistical releases. It displays tourist arrivals by country and region over time.

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Home » News » South Africa

By Chulumanco Mahamba

Digital Night Supervisor

3 minute read

29 Apr 2024

‘Shocking and unacceptable’: SA Tourism recovers R35m from irregular payments

Sa tourism recovers r35 million in irregular payments for unrendered services at their united states and south african offices..

Image: Twitter/SATravelTrade

South African Tourism ( SA Tourism ) has recovered R35 million in irregular payments for services not rendered at their US and South African offices.

In a statement on Monday, tourism minister Patricia de Lille said she wished to inform the public of a number of irregular payments that were made through SA Tourism’s United States of America and South Africa offices for services not rendered.

As an entity of the department of tourism, in order to facilitate officials’ communication with important partners in the course of endorsing and marketing South Africa, SA Tourism has a number of hub offices in major source market nations worldwide.

Irregular payments and invoices

“I was recently informed by SA Tourism that there had been a number of irregular payments and invoices noted that do not meet the definition of compliant and valid or internal control verification standards,” de Lille said.

The minister said the irregular invoices were created about three days before the previous financial year (31 March 2023) and processed piece by piece in order to override banking controls.

Tourism numbers paint a different picture than official statements

ALSO READ: Tourism numbers paint a different picture than official statements

At the end of March 2023, executives who are no longer with SA Tourism processed the payments from the SA and USA offices of SA Tourism.

According to the department, after the irregular payments were detected, the service provider was notified and acknowledged that a sizable amount of the money they had received—which had been approved by SA Tourism’s acting chief financial officer, acting chief executive officer, and acting chief operations officer—was for services that had not been provided.

‘Shocking and unacceptable’

“These irregular payments are completely shocking, and it is unacceptable that officials entrusted with public funds continue to act with such contempt of public finance laws and regulations. We will not leave this matter unaccounted for,” the minister said.

“The internal audit report is being finalised, and the matter has also been reported to the auditor general of South Africa to investigate.”

After months of communication with the media agency to pay the money back, SA Tourism recovered all the funds, and R35 million was turned to the SA Tourism account.

ALSO READ: VAT uncertainty puts strain on SA’s tourism industry

“We are relieved that all the money has been recovered from the irregular payments. I can also confirm that the auditor general of South Africa is in the process of finalising a delegation from the AG’s office to do an audit on the SA Tourism New York office,” de Lille said.

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South Africa is a country with a diverse range of tourist attractions, both natural and manmade.

Tourists from inside and outside of the country frequent certain attractions more than others, as seen by visitor numbers.

We take a look at some of the most visited tourist hotspots in South Africa below.

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SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM

International tourists travel to South Africa to experience among other things, its diverse cultures and exceptional attractions.

Tourism is an important part of SA’s economy. It contributes roughly 3.2% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to  BusinessTech . 

POPULAR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS:

V&a waterfront.

The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town, is one of the most popular attractions in the country.

The facility offers retail shops, restaurants, bars, hotels and an aquarium. It frequently plays host to many events and activities.

The V&A is visited by nearly 24 million visitors each year. 

TABLE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

This 221-square-kilometer reserve in Cape Town is the most visited national park in South Africa. 

Table Mountain National Park is divided into various sections. These include Table Mountain (a world heritage site), Cape Point, Boulders Beach (home to 3 000 African penguins), Signal Hill, and Lions Head.

The park is frequented by over 4 million visitors per year.

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KIRSTENBOSCH BOTANICAL GARDENS

These world-renowned botanical gardens were established over 100 years ago.

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KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

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There are caps on the number of visitors that may enter the park each day, to maintain its ecological authenticity.

The Kruger is located across two of the country’s provinces, Mpumulanga and Limpopo.

It is South Africa’s largest wildlife reserve, covering an area of 19 624 square kilometers.

It is home to a large collection of fauna and flora species, including the Big 5. 

USHAKA MARINE WORLD

This marine-themed adventure park is home to the largest aquarium in the southern hemisphere.

The aquarium houses hundreds of marine animals including turtles, sharks, fish, penguins, seals and dolphins.

Ushaka includes a water park, a beach, restaurants, shops, a reptile park and an adventure park, all situated across 16 hectares.

Ushaka draws around 800 000 visitors per year.

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The post South Africa’s most visited tourist attractions: See here appeared first on SAPeople - Worldwide South African News .

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille. Image: C40 Cities / Flickr

R35 million in irregular payments recovered by SA Tourism

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille says that R35 million, linked to irregular payments for services not rendered, has been returned to SA Tourism.

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille said on Monday that R35 million linked to irregular payments for services not rendered has been returned to the SA Tourism account.

SA Tourism is the official tourism marketing agency of South Africa and an entity of the Department of Tourism.

According to the South African government news agency website , several of the irregular payments were made for services not rendered by South African Tourism’s US and South Africa offices.

SA Tourism has hub offices in key source market countries

As part of its mandate, SA Tourism has hub offices in key source market countries around the world to enable officials to interact with key partners in executing their duties of promoting and marketing South Africa as a top travel destination.   “I was recently informed by SA Tourism that there had been a number of irregular payments and invoices noted, which do not meet the definition of compliant and valid or internal control verification standards.     “A number of irregular invoices were created about three days before the previous financial year end, which ended on 31 March 2023 and processed piecemeal to override banking controls,” De Lille explained.    Executives who are no longer working for the agency, the minister said, processed these payments, from the United States and South Africa offices of SA Tourism at the end of March 2023. 

However, it was then discovered that the services for which the payment was made were not provided.

‘Unacceptable’

“These irregular payments are completely shocking and it is unacceptable that officials entrusted with public funds continue to act with such contempt of public finance laws and regulations. We will not leave this matter unaccounted for. The internal audit report is being finalised and the matter has also been reported to the Auditor-General of South Africa to investigate,” De Lille said.   Communication ensued with the respective media agency to pay back R35 million for services not rendered.    “We are relieved that all the money has been recovered from the irregular payments. I can also confirm that the Auditor-General of South Africa is in the process of finalising a delegation from the AG’s office to do an audit on the SA Tourism New York office,” she added.

The Department of Tourism made headlines in early 2023 when it was reported that it was in negotiations for a near R1 billion deal to sponsor English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur .

[MEDIA STATEMENT] R35million in irregular payments recovered by SA Tourism https://t.co/CqBabrSids @PatriciaDeLille #WeDoTourism pic.twitter.com/Lahu62jkTM — Dept of Tourism (@Tourism_gov_za) April 29, 2024

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​​​ ​In the interest of transparency, I wish to update the public on a matter where I had recently been made aware of a number of irregular payments which were made through South African Tourism’s United States of America and South Africa offices for services not rendered.

SA Tourism is the official tourism marketing agency of South Africa and an entity of the Department of Tourism. As part of its mandate, SA Tourism has a number of hub offices in key source market countries around the world to enable officials to interact with key partners in executing their duties of promoting and marketing South Africa as a top travel destination.  

I was recently informed by SA Tourism that there had been a number of irregular payments and invoices noted which do not meet the definition of compliant and valid or internal control verification standards.  

A number of irregular invoices were created about three days before the previous financial year end (31 March 2023) and processed piecemeal in order to override banking controls.  

These payments were processed from the USA and the South Africa offices of SA Tourism at the end of March 2023 by executives who are no longer in the employment of SA Tourism.

This discovery was triggered by a review by SA Tourism which confirmed that a significant portion received by a media agency during March 2023 and signed off by the then-acting Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operations Officer and the then Acting CEO were for services not yet rendered at the time of disbursement.

These transactions are linked to a media agency and when these irregularities were discovered, the service provider was informed and conceded that a significant portion received by them and signed off by then Acting Chief Financial Officer, Acting Chief Executive Officer and the then COO of SA Tourism were for services not rendered.

“These irregular payments are completely shocking and it is unacceptable that officials entrusted with public funds continue to act with such contempt of public finance laws and regulations. We will not leave this matter unaccounted for. The internal audit report is being finalised and the matter has also been reported to the Auditor General of South Africa to investigate,” Minister de Lille said.  

Following months of communication with the respective media agency to pay back the money for services not rendered, SA Tourism has been able to recover all the funds linked to the irregular payments, for services not rendered. An amount of R35million has been returned to the SA Tourism account.

“We are relieved that all the money has been recovered from the irregular payments. I can also confirm that Auditor General of South Africa is in the process of finalising a delegation from the AG’s office to do an audit on the SA Tourism New York office,” Minister de Lille concluded.  

ENDS  

Zara Nicholson

Ministry Media Liaison Officer

Cell: +27 (0) 79 416 5996

Email: [email protected]  ​