La Réunion markets volcano tourism and visa-free access to attract South African travellers

The small island of La Réunion recently attracted a number of tourists when the Piton de la Fournaise volcano erupted for the second time this year.

The Piton de la Fournaise began erupting 13 February, with the lava flowing for almost a month and reaching the Indian ocean for the first time in 19 years.

This natural phenomenon is one of the island’s biggest tourist attractions.

"It's a small island, you can make a round trip to the island in one day by car, but even if you stay one month, it's impossible to see everything. That's why most part of the tourists, when they come to Réunion Island, you can be sure that they will come back twice, three times, four times," Stephane Bonneau from La Réunion’s tourism board told the media.

Bonneau was speaking at an event held by La Réunion Tourism Board ahead of the World Travel Market (WTM) Africa 2026, which will take place from 13-15 April 2026 in Cape Town.

The board aims spotlight the French Indian Ocean destination’s growing appeal to African travellers, particularly those from South Africa.

Travelling to La Réunion takes only three hours and 30 minutes from South Africa, with no visa needed.

"We have more than 5,000 South African tourists that came last year. And the number of tourists from South Africa has increased between 10 and 13% each year. We have the flight with Air France, three flights per week," said Bonneau.

Highlighting the island’s affordability compared to the likes of Mauritius and Seychelles, Bonneau spoke about the different accommodation options to meet everyone’s budget.

"Everywhere you will find bed and breakfast. It's cheaper. To give you an idea, for two people, it will cost you 45 euros (R869,20), including the breakfast for one night. So, it's not so expensive. And you will live with local people. And you will stay with them for the lunch, for the dinner. Most hotels are on the west coast, close to the beach. You also have three-star, four-star, five-star hotels situated in the mountains, but if you want to stay on the lagoon, you will drive, you will go to see the volcano, you will discover more than 10 different kinds of landscape," said Bonneau.

EWN also had the opportunity to have a chat with Caroline Barnabot who recently relocated to La Réunion from south of France.

Barnabot said her dream had always been to live on an island by the Indian ocean.

"So, I decided to change everything in my life and to work in an island. It's very quiet, very calm, there is nature, no noise and for me it's the way of life that I want to live," said Barnabot.

"The people are very welcoming and they are very kind. I was living in the south of France in Marseille. There is a lot of people, a lot of violence. So, for me it was very difficult. And in Reunion Island, people are very quiet, there is no aggression.”