International tourist arrivals in South Africa rose by 12.3% in the first half of 2026, driven by resilient demand despite rising travel costs linked to geopolitical factors. The South Africa Department of Tourism reported robust visitor numbers reaching over 4.2 million from January through May 2026.
June 2026 Arrivals Show Mixed Monthly Trends and Regional Visitor Composition
In June 2026, Stats SA recorded nearly 1.09 million foreign travellers entering South Africa, marking a 6% decrease compared to May but a 4.3% increase year on year. A total of 2.8 million travellers, including arrivals, departures, and transits, passed through the country’s ports of entry during June. Of these, approximately 715,000 were South
African residents and roughly 2.1 million were foreign visitors.
Visitors from Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries accounted for 81.2% of arrivals in June, with Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho being the leading contributors. Other African nations represented 1.5% of visitors, mainly from Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria, indicating continued travel despite regional anti-immigrant tensions. Overseas tourists made up 17.2% of arrivals, with 49% of these visitors originating from the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.
Visitor Purposes and Regional Arrival Patterns Reflect Varied Year-on-Year Changes
The vast majority of tourists, 97.3%, visited South Africa for holiday purposes in June 2026. Year-on-year data showed declines in arrivals from the Middle East (-19.7%),
Asia (-14.8%), and North America (-2.1%). Conversely, visitor numbers increased from Australasia by 13.2%, Central and South America by 13%, Africa by 12.1%, and Europe by 3.9%.
Travel Cost Pressures and Geopolitical Risks Influence Tourist Flows
The war in the Middle East since early March 2026 has heightened jet fuel prices, elevating travel costs. Despite this, South Africa’s tourism sector has demonstrated resilience. The local government’s visa reforms, investments in tourism infrastructure, targeted safety programs, and airline route expansions have supported continued growth amid these challenges. Anti-immigrant tensions between South Africa and countries such as Ghana and Nigeria have not substantially deterred travel from those nations.
Tourism Revenues and Air Connectivity Developments Boost Sector
Tourist accommodation income
increased by 2.5% year on year at current prices in May 2026, with accommodation-related revenue up 2.2% compared to the previous year. The South Africa Department of Tourism highlighted that international arrivals rose 12.8% to more than 4.22 million visitors over the five months ending in May 2026.
Airline service enhancements play a role in visitor growth. Latam Airlines introduced a direct route between Cape Town and São Paulo early in 2026. Turkish Airlines announced plans to increase weekly direct flights between Istanbul and South Africa’s Johannesburg and Cape Town airports from 14 to 20 starting in October 2026, with
10 flights to each city, up from seven previously.
Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille stated, “South Africa’s greatest competitive advantage lies in the combination of our people, our natural beauty, our rich heritage and our world-class infrastructure. Together, they continue to position our country as a destination of choice.” Investec economist Lara Hodes added, “Indeed, tourism continues to be a critical driver of economic growth and employment in South Africa.”
The government’s comprehensive tourism route development and marketing plan aims to strengthen direct connectivity and open new source markets, supporting sustained sector expansion.
