SA tourism 'on the rise' as international arrivals jump by 1.3m in 2025

A massive surge in international arrivals has positioned South Africa’s tourism sector for a period of sustained growth, the Department of Tourism announced on Tuesday.

The Department of Tourism reported that the country welcomed 8.56 million people between January 2025 and October 2025, which marked an increase of 1.3 million new arrivals compared to the same period in 2024

Minister of Tourism Patricia De Lille said the figures confirmed tourism had not only recovered but was once again driving economic growth.

"Tourism is proving itself a catalyst of economic growth and development. The industry is creating jobs, stimulating investment, and revitalising local economies," she said.

Building on the positive trend, the data showed October 2025 recorded 927,426 tourist arrivals, marking an impressive 32% increase compared to October 2024 and positioning it as one of the strongest Octobers on record.

This performance followed a strong September, which alone recorded 846,367 visitors, an increase of 26.9% compared to September 2024. The total number of international tourists from January to September 2025 stood at 7,634,261, an impressive increase of 1,108,222 visitors compared to the same period last year.

Minister De Lille said: "We are now in a period of sustained growth. These numbers reflect the hard work of our industry partners, the improved ease of travel, enhanced air access, and our continued focus on service excellence and new tourism experiences. South Africa is becoming more competitive, and visitors are responding."

She also extended her appreciation to the 1.8 million tourism workers.

"To all the dedicated tourism workers across the country, thank you for your commitment. You are the heartbeat of this sector, and this growth is a testament to your resilience and professionalism."

The strong results were seen as a clear sign of growing global confidence in South Africa as a destination of choice and bore testament to the collaborative efforts between government and the private sector to implement the Tourism Growth Partnership Plan.

Regional highlights showed consistent growth across all major markets:

• - Africa (land markets) rose by 26.7%, showing sustained regional growth.
• - Africa (air markets) grew by 28% with DRC (+58%), Kenya (+27%), and Nigeria (+42%) leading.
• - Europe grew by 29%, with the UK (+35%) and Germany (+31%) leading the charge.
• - North America increased by 22%, boosted by Canada’s 47% surge, and the USA (+18%).
• - Asia and the Middle East continued to deliver solid double-digit growth, with Asia (+11%) and the Middle East (+58%).

Looking ahead to the peak travel period, Minister De Lille said: "South Africa is ready to welcome the world this festive season with open arms, warm smiles, and world-class experiences."

She called on all South Africans to "continue showing the spirit of Ubuntu and hospitality that defines our nation" to make every visitor feel at home.

The government reiterated its commitment to building a thriving, inclusive and sustainable tourism sector that contributes meaningfully to jobs and economic growth, evident from the successful hosting of the recently concluded G20 Leaders’ Summit.