For Q1 2023, international tourists’ total foreign direct spend amounted to R25.3 billion (€1.2bn), with African tourists (land and air) spending R9.3 billion. (€454m).

This was highlighted in a recent South African Tourism report showing that tourists from Europe, followed by The Americas, were the third- and fourth-highest spenders.

While total spend for the first quarter was 143.9% up compared with the same period in 2022, this is still 0.9% down on 2019 figures.

Similarly, Africa was the highest source market for South Africa from January to April 2023, with 2.1m of the total 2.8 million visitors originating from the continent.

Europe followed with 484 530 tourists and the Americas with 139 207arrivals.

With Europe being the top inter-continental source market for Africa, Tourism Update will share detailed insights and activities reports from SA Tourism’s European hubs.