Between April and June, overseas arrivals showed limited growth compared to the second quarter (Q2) of 2025, according to the latest International Tourism Report from Statistics South Africa (StatsSA).
Europe and North America remained South Africa’s largest overseas source regions with 248 886 and 124 114 arrivals respectively, representing year-on-year growth of 8.2% and 5.1%. Europe accounted for just over half of all overseas arrivals.
Against a backdrop of continued geopolitical instability, the Middle East recorded the steepest decline among overseas regions with arrivals falling by 20.3% compared with Q2 of 2025. Asia recorded the second largest decline with arrivals down 13.2% year on year.
The 22.8% increase in arrivals from Central and South America was likely supported by strong growth from Brazil, which is South Africa’s largest source market in the region. Arrivals from Brazil increased 31.5% year on year from 14 168 in Q2 of 2025 to 18 625 in Q2 of 2026, suggesting sustained demand even before LATAM’s launch of direct flights between São Paulo and Cape Town in July.
Year to date, overseas arrivals increased 5.6%, driven by strong growth from Central and South America (21.2%) and Europe (10.5%). Asia and the Middle East remained the weakest-performing regions with arrivals down 12.0% and 23.0% respectively.
According to June arrival data, Asia remains the weakest-performing overseas region with arrivals still 43.5% below June 2019 levels. Compared with June 2025, arrivals from Asia declined by a further 14.8%. Despite a 19.7% year-on-year decline in June 2026, arrivals from the Middle East remained 12.1% above pre-pandemic June 2019 levels.
The US and UK continue to be South Africa’s largest overseas source markets. However, Australia overtook Germany to become South Africa's third-largest overseas source market in June, recording 12 113 arrivals compared with Germany’s 7 637.
Despite recent tensions surrounding foreign nationals in South Africa, arrivals from the African market remained robust. The continent contributed 680 777 arrivals in June, up 12.1% year on year and 17.6% above pre-pandemic levels.
