South Africa’s tourism sector may reach 2019 arrival figures before anticipated, with all signs pointing to a bumper summer season.

Speaking after the second National Tourism Safety Forum meeting, held in Cape Town on Tuesday (August 29), Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille said data for the first six months of 2023 showed a 78.2% increase in tourism arrivals compared with the same period in 2022. African arrivals made up the lion’s share of the four million arrivals to South Africa at over three million, a 79.9% increase on the same period in 2022.

Arrivals from the Asian region had almost doubled, with 99.5% growth compared with 2022, while arrivals from Europe, South Africa’s key source market outside Africa, were up 66.8%, year on year.

“These robust figures showcase South Africa’s charm and attractiveness as well as the work that we are doing in marketing South Africa as a tourist destination of choice,” said De Lille.

She said the announcement by the Daily Telegraph of South Africa as the best country to visit had had a positive impact on the destination. However, in the wake of the death of a UK tourist during the recent Western Cape taxi strikes, there had also been immediate cancellations.

Looking ahead at the upcoming season, CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, said: “We are expecting a very big and good season. Spring is coming, people are starting to book their travel. Those that are going to be coming into the country have started looking into that, domestic travellers are preparing, and we would like to encourage everyone to book their travel as early as possible because it is going to be a busy summer.

“We do know that our numbers are going to look good, and we do know that we may reach the 2019 figures probably even before the time that we expect, which means that the recovery is well on its way. We now have to plough back, 2020, 2021, and 2022,” he said.

Michael Tollman, CEO of Cullinan Holdings and Chairperson of the South African Tourism Safety Forum, said: “If I look back at January, February, March and even April, and how we saw the year, it looked tough. It’s been quite extraordinary the change, and the appreciation of South Africa and the interest from wholesalers and people all over the world who are coming to South Africa.”

“Our arrival numbers for 2023 are looking good, demonstrating that South Africa is still a favourable tourist destination, and we are eager to welcome more tourists as we head into the busy summer season,” added De Lille.

The official launch of the season will be held in the Eastern Cape in September.