South Africa’s top tourist hub – and it’s not the Western Cape
The tourism sector remains a cornerstone of the South African economy, driving economic growth and job creation.
While various provinces are vying for the title of South Africa’s top tourist destination, Gauteng has consistently emerged as the popular choice for both domestic and international visitors.
In a recent parliamentary response to the DA’s Haseena Ismail, Tourism minister Patricia de Lille unpacked some of the key figures in the country’s critical sector since 2022.
According to the minister, of the approximately ~5.7 million international tourists that visited South Africa between January and December of 2022, 2.3 million visited Gauteng, followed by Mpumalanga at 1.2 million and the Western Cape at 0.9 million.
Between January and December 2023, there were ~8.5 million international arrivals, where 3.7 million visited Gauteng, 1.8 million Mpumalanga and 1.3 million the Western Cape.
This top three province trend has continued in the first half of 2024, with 1.98 million visiting Gauteng, 1.04 million visiting Mpumalanga, and 0.7 million visiting the Western Cape.
Citing the South African Tourism Departure Survey, de Lille said that international tourism contributed R189.6 billion in revenue (foreign direct spend) between April 2022 and June 2024.
This is seen through:
- April 2022-March 2023: R74.6 billion;
- April 2023-March 2024: R95.1 billion;
- April 2024-June 2024: R19.9 billion.
It is estimated that international visitor spending will reach R131.8 billion in 2024 (January to December).
Looking at domestic trips between January and December 2022, approximately 5.6 million domestic trips were taken to Limpopo, making it the most visited province. Gauteng followed closely with 5.3 million trips, and the Eastern Cape saw around 5.2 million trips.
In 2023, the trend continued with 7.5 million trips to Limpopo, 6.9 million to Gauteng, and 5.9 million to the Eastern Cape, indicating a growing interest in these provinces. KwaZulu Natal, with 5.4 million trips, also remained popular.
By the first half of 2024, Limpopo had 2.8 million trips, Gauteng saw 3.6 million, and the Eastern Cape had 2.4 million trips.
De Lille said that between April 2022 and June 2024, domestic tourism contributed ~R257.4 billion in revenue.
According to the South African Tourism Domestic Survey, this is made up of:
- April 2022-March 2023: R103.8 billion;
- April 2023-March 2024: R123.8 billion;
- April 2024-June 2024: R29.8 billion.
Going forward
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), tourism’s contribution to South Africa’s GDP naturally dipped during COVID-19 but recovered to 8.2% in 2023.
It is estimated to rise to 8.8% by the end of 2024 and reach 10.4% of GDP by 2030.
According to WTTC statistics, South Africa’s tourism sector employed 1.46 million people in 2023 and is expected to grow to nearly 1.7 million jobs in 2024.
The WTTC further projects that employment in the tourism sector for South Africa is projected to grow to and 2.23 million jobs in 2030.
“Tourism remains a vital sector in South Africa, essential for economic growth and job creation,” said the Department of Tourism.
“While the global tourism market is on the path to recovery, South Africa must intensify its efforts to align with global and regional growth trends.
“Strategic investments in marketing, infrastructure, and policy adjustments are critical to ensuring South Africa maximises its potential in this vital sector,” added the department.