South Africa Records 11 Million Tourist Arrivals in 2025

South Africa welcomed 11.2 million international tourists in 2025, surpassing the 2019 pre-pandemic record of 10.2 million arrivals.

The recovery has been driven by visa reforms including the e-visa expansion to 35 new countries, and new direct air routes from the United States, India, and Nigeria. The UK remains the largest source market, followed by the United States and Germany.

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille announced a new marketing campaign targeting the African diaspora in North America and Europe, with a R450 million budget allocated for the next three years.