September arrivals increased by 2,1% year-to-date, from 1 273 734 in September 2016 to 1 300 502 in September 2017. A month-to-month comparison indicates a small drop of 0,1%, from August 2017’s figure of 1 302 312.
In September this year, the distribution of overseas tourists was:
- Europe: 52%, 115 148 arrivals;
- North America: 18%, 38 535 arrivals;
- Asia: 13%, 27 083 arrivals;
- Australasia: 7%, 15 031 arrivals;
- Central and South America: 4%, 8 565 arrivals;
- Middle East: 2%, 4 358 arrivals.
The ten leading countries visiting South Africa in September 2017 accounted for 75% of all tourism:
- US: 32 551 arrivals (16%);
- UK: 28 904 arrivals (14%);
- Germany: 26 282 arrivals (13%);
- Australia: 13 296 arrivals (6%);
- France: 13 102 arrivals (6%);
- The Netherlands, 12 246 arrivals (6%);
- China: 9 142 arrivals (4%);
- India: 7 676 arrivals (4%);
- Canada: 5 984 arrivals (3%);
- Brazil: 5 493 arrivals (3%).
The year-to-date stats show that the number of tourists has increased for seven of the ten leading countries; Brazil, France, Canada, Germany, USA, Australia and the Netherlands, but decreased for China, UK and India.
Brazil had the largest increase of 60%, from 3 425 tourists in September 2016 to 5 493 in September 2017. They were closely followed by France, which increased by 51%, from 8 673 tourists in September 2016 to 13 102 in September 2017. China had the largest decrease of 10%, from 10 160 tourists in September 2016 to 9 142 in September 2017.
A year-to-date comparison for the ten leading SADC countries travelling to South Africa shows that the number of tourists increased for eight of the ten leading countries; Mozambique, Malawi, Botswana, Angola, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Zambia, and decreased for Namibia and Lesotho.
Mozambique showed the largest increase of 17%, from 94 207 tourists in September 2016 to 110 076 in September 2017, while Namibia showed the largest decrease of 2%, from 16 636 tourists in September 2016 to 16 258 in September 2017.
In September 2017, 88% (183 344) of overseas tourists arrived in the country by air, while 12% (25 293) came by road and less than 0.1% (83) arrived by sea.
Tourists from SADC countries, on the other hand, came predominantly by road, 94% (568 973), with only 6% (39 030) arriving by air.
Quarterly and annual trends
Between Q2 and Q3 of 2017 the number of overseas tourists increased by 15%, from 545 208 in Q2 to 628 751 in Q3.
A year-on-year comparison between 2016 and 2017 for Q3 shows that the number of overseas tourists increased by 5%, from 600 420 in 2016 to 628 751 in 2017.
