After a sharp contraction due to COVID-19, the South African tourism industry is also on an upward trend. The World Travel and Tourism Council expects the sector to continue recording an average annual growth of 7.6% until 2032.

Foreign tourist arrivals in South Africa reached 3.8 million during the first five months of 2024, registering a 9.7% increase compared to the same period in 2023, announced the Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, on July 16, 2024.

"This increase has contributed to a 27.5% rise in direct spending by foreign visitors, which is expected to reach 95.1 billion rand (5.3 billion dollars) during the 2023/2024 fiscal year," she stated during the ministry's budget review in the Assembly.

The minister also noted a significant increase in the number of visitors from Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East, highlighting that several African source markets, such as Ghana and Kenya, have seen a strong improvement following the implementation of a visa exemption program for their citizens.

In 2023, foreign tourist arrivals in South Africa increased by 48.9% compared to 2022, reaching 8.48 million.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the South African tourism and travel industry is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 7.6% until 2032. It should represent 7.4% of the country's GDP and generate more than 800,000 jobs by then.

Article source: ecomnewsafrique