TOURISM NEWS - The latest tourism figures show that 5 584 473 international tourists visited South Africa between January and June 2026, with growth recorded across both regional and overseas markets.
Arrivals from the African continent increased by 14.3%, while overseas arrivals rose by 5.6%, highlighting the country's continued appeal as a travel destination.
June also recorded strong growth, with 823 365 international tourists visiting South Africa during the month – a 9.8% increase compared with June 2025. Tourist arrivals from Africa were up 12.1% year on year.
US remains top overseas market
The United States remained South Africa's leading overseas source market for the second consecutive month in June, with 40 566 American visitors travelling to the country.
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille said the positive results reflected government's efforts to diversify South Africa's tourism offering and strengthen partnerships with the tourism industry and international markets.
"The sustained growth in both regional and overseas arrivals reflects the resilience of our tourism sector and the effectiveness of the partnerships we have built with industry and our international markets," she said.
Focus on growth
De Lille said government would continue expanding joint marketing initiatives across Africa while strengthening its presence in key overseas markets.
She added that improving ease of travel, expanding air connectivity and positioning South Africa as a destination for both leisure and business tourism remained priorities.
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