Total tourist arrivals into South Africa showed sluggish growth, increasing by 6% in January 2018, from 1 040 534 in January 2017 compared with 1 103 940 in January 2018. This is according to the latest statistics released by StatsSA.

In January 2018, there were 244 657 overseas arrivals recorded, showing a slight decline of 0,2% from January 2017.

In terms of SA’s top source markets, Brazil showed the biggest increase in arrivals – a 24% increase – from 6 114 arrivals in January 2017 to 7 558 in January 2018. This was followed by India at 13%, from 6 293 in January 2017 to 7 115 for the same month in 2018.

The biggest decline was China with a 46% drop in arrivals from 12 066 in January 2017 to 6 505 in January this year, knocking it out of the top ten source markets for SA.

The number of tourists visiting South Africa in January 2018, in terms of quantity, from the top ten countries are as follows: the UK (48 663), Germany (35 434), the US  (23 454), France (15 681), The Netherlands (13 665), Australia (8 871), Sweden (7 898), Brazil (7 558), India (7 115), and Switzerland (6 696).

Comparing movements among the ten leading countries between January 2017 and January 2018 showedthat the number of tourists increased for eight of the ten leading countries – Brazil, India, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, the UK and US; however France and The Netherlands showed a decline.

Arrivals from The Netherlands declined by 5%, with 14 346 arrivals in January 2017 compared with 13 665 in January 2018.

Europe, North America, Central and South America grew by 2%, 0,3% and 22% respectively. Australasia, the Middle East and Asia showed a decline in arrivals, dropping by 2%, 3% and 20% respectively.