Europe – South Africa’s leading overseas source market region – sustained its encouraging 2025 performance in February with additional increases from Australasia and South America contributing to a 3% year-on-year growth in overseas arrivals for the month. This on the back of a 5.5% rise in January.
Statistics South Africa’s latest International Tourism Report shows that arrivals from the European region grew 4.1% year-on-year to 151 506 — accounting for a 70% share of South Africa’s total 215 830 overseas arrivals. Among major European markets, France led the way with an 8.2% increase, closely followed by the UK at 7.2%. Overall, European arrivals are now at 90% of pre-COVID 2019 figures.
Australasia and South America continue to shine as key emerging markets, respectively exhibiting 6.2% and 23.8% year-on-year growth. This helped to offset declines in the North America (-2%), Asia (-3.5%) and Middle East (-9.2%) markets.
The overall overseas arrivals figure represents an 88% recovery rate when compared with February 2019.
