International tourist arrivals surpass 7.5m in South Africa

South Africa recorded more than 1 million international tourist arrivals in August 2026, a 7.4% increase from August 2025, as the country’s tourism sector continues to attract foreign spending and demand.

The latest figures from the Department of Tourism show that more than 7.5 million international tourists visited South Africa between January and August 2026.

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Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille said the growth highlights the need to convert rising visitor numbers into broader economic activity, including investment, jobs and opportunities for communities.

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“Welcoming more than one million international tourists in August demonstrates the demand that exists for South Africa,” she says.

The United States remained South Africa’s largest overseas source market in August, contributing 37 134 tourists, followed by the United Kingdom with 25 749 and Germany with 14 731.

The latest performance follows what the department described as resilient growth during the first half of 2026. According to UN Tourism, South Africa recorded 12% growth in international tourist arrivals during the first six months of the year compared with the same period in 2025.

UN Tourism also placed South Africa among the top 20 best-performing destinations globally among destinations reporting data for the first half of 2026.

De Lille said the priority is now to increase tourism’s economic contribution by expanding the range of products and experiences available to visitors. “Our focus must now be on converting that demand into investment, jobs and economic opportunities,” she says.

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The figures come as government hosts the South African Tourism Infrastructure Investment Summit, aimed at connecting investors and tourism stakeholders around new and expanded tourism products, experiences and infrastructure.

The department says that “the growth in demand strengthens the case for expanding and diversifying South Africa’s tourism offering”.

Phenyo Selinda is a Moneyweb Intern*

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