Tourism strength grows as South Africa records 5.6 million arrivals in six months

Cape Town – South Africa’s tourism sector continued to show strong momentum in the first half of 2026, with tourist arrivals remaining above pre-Covid levels, according to the South African Reserve Bank (SARB).

In its “Chart of the Week” published on Friday, the SARB highlighted the continued recovery in international tourism, noting that arrivals remained above pre-pandemic levels during the first six months of the year.

The chart, based on data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), shows tourist arrivals reaching about 5.6 million in the first half of 2026, compared with lower levels recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic.

The latest Stats SA data shows that South Africa recorded 823,365 overnight tourists in June, with SADC visitors accounting for 81.2% of the total. Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Lesotho were the largest contributors from the regional bloc.

Chart of the week on South Africa’s tourism strength pic.twitter.com/eQYgc1e7zy

— SA Reserve Bank (@SAReserveBank) September 4, 2026

The SARB said the growth in tourism was being driven largely by visitors from countries within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), while overseas arrivals were also continuing to recover.

“Growth continued to be driven by visitors from countries in the Southern African Development Community, while overseas arrivals recovered further,” the central bank said.

Tourism’s resurgence comes after South Africa recorded 10.5 million international tourists in 2025, a 17.7% increase from 8.9 million in 2024, with the country surpassing pre-pandemic tourism levels.

The SARB said stronger economic growth in the region was likely supporting demand for tourism, pointing to a “strong correlation” between regional economic performance and tourist arrivals.

Accommodation

“Continued strength in tourism should support domestic activity, particularly in hospitality and related services,” it said.

The recovery is already feeding into the accommodation industry. Stats SA reported that income from tourist accommodation increased by 1% year-on-year in June 2026, while income from accommodation rose 2.4%, supported by a 2.6% increase in stay-unit nights sold. Accommodation income increased by 3.6% in the second quarter compared with the same period in 2025.

The figures point to tourism becoming an increasingly important contributor to South Africa’s broader services economy, with regional travel continuing to provide a major source of visitors while long-haul international tourism recovers.