South Africa witnessed a remarkable surge in tourist arrivals last year, recording a nearly 50 percent increase, according to statements from the country’s tourism ministry. Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille revealed that 8.5 million international tourists visited South Africa in the past year, marking a significant uptick from previous figures.
A substantial portion of these arrivals, approximately 6.4 million visitors, hailed from Africa, constituting about 75 percent of the total influx. Additionally, South Africa experienced a notable rise in arrivals from Asian countries, with around 200,000 visitors making their way to the nation, reflecting a 69 percent increase from the previous year.
De Lille attributed this impressive recovery to consistent efforts aimed at portraying South Africa as a welcoming and responsible tourism destination, catering to the preferences of intrepid travelers with a focus on sustainability and green initiatives.
The introduction of favourable visa policies further bolstered tourist numbers, with South Africa allowing Kenyan visitors to enter the country visa-free for up to 90 days within a calendar year starting from January 1, 2023. This policy change significantly contributed to the overall increase in international tourist arrivals.
Hosting the 15th BRICS Summit as the chair last year also played a pivotal role in attracting tourists from member countries. Notably, there was a substantial rise in Indian tourists, with approximately 80,000 arrivals, marking a 44 percent increase from the previous year. Additionally, the United Arab Emirates, a new member of the BRICS family, contributed to the surge, with over 6,500 tourists visiting South Africa, reflecting a remarkable 110 percent increase compared to 2022 figures.
Furthermore, efforts are underway to streamline visa processing to facilitate more visits from Chinese tourists, whose numbers surged by 205 percent last year. Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, expressed optimism about the country’s tourism recovery, attributing it to the effective destination marketing efforts undertaken despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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