South Africa recorded a 12.3% increase in international tourist arrivals during the first half of 2026, driven by a 14.3% rise from other African countries and a 5.6% growth in arrivals from overseas markets, according to Statistics South Africa’s (Stats SA) International Tourism statistical release (P0350). In June 2026 alone, 2,788,901 travellers were processed through South Africa’s ports of entry and exit.
Foreign arrivals in June totaled 1,085,557, consisting of 1,056,076 visitors and 29,481 non-visitors. Among these visitors, 232,711 were same-day visitors, while 823,365 were overnight tourists, marking a 9.8% year-on-year increase in tourist arrivals for the month.
Regional and overseas arrival breakdowns
June regional
arrivals included 668,770 travellers from South African Development Community (SADC) countries and 12,007 from other African nations. Combined, arrivals from the African continent rose by 12.1% year-on-year in June. Overseas arrivals for the month amounted to 141,796 travellers entering from outside Africa.
United States leads overseas markets in June 2026
The United States was South Africa’s top overseas source market for the second consecutive month, contributing 40,566 arrivals in June 2026. This influx helped sustain overseas market growth amid the overall 5.6% increase in arrivals from international markets outside Africa during the first half of 2026.
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille linked the growth to strategic market development
and strong collaborations with commercial partners. She highlighted the role of diversifying tourism products and improving accessibility in driving demand.
Government and ministerial response
De Lille said, “The sustained growth in both regional and overseas arrivals reflects the resilience of our tourism sector and the effectiveness of the partnerships we have built with industry and our international markets.” She emphasized continued efforts to strengthen joint marketing initiatives across Africa and expand South Africa’s presence in key overseas markets.
She added, “Once again, the deliberate decision to diversify our tourism products is yielding positive results. We will continue strengthening these relationships through joint marketing initiatives
across the African continent while expanding our reach into strategic overseas markets.” The Tourism Minister noted the government’s commitment to increasing ease of access and air connectivity to further position South Africa as a preferred destination for leisure and business travel.
