South Africa’s Tourism Sector Continues Strong Growth in First Half of 2026
South Africa’s tourism industry continues to build momentum, with the latest international arrival figures pointing to a strong first half of 2026 and sustained growth across key source markets.
Between January and June 2026, the country welcomed 5 584 473 international tourists, representing a 12.3% increase compared with the same period in 2025. The figures highlight the sector’s continued recovery and growing appeal among both regional and long-haul travellers.
The strongest growth came from the African continent, with arrivals increasing by 14.3% during the first six months of the year. Overseas markets also delivered encouraging results, recording a 5.6% increase, reinforcing South Africa’s position as a sought-after destination for international visitors.
June also proved to be another positive month for the industry. South Africa recorded 823 365 international tourist arrivals, up 9.8% compared with June 2025. Visitors from African countries continued to drive much of this growth, with arrivals from the continent rising by 12.1% year-on-year.
A notable highlight was the continued strength of the United States market. For the second consecutive month, the United States ranked as South Africa’s leading overseas source market, with 40 566 American visitors travelling to the country during June.
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille said the latest figures demonstrate that the country’s strategy of diversifying its tourism products is producing positive results.
She said the sustained growth in both regional and overseas arrivals reflects the resilience of South Africa’s tourism sector and the success of partnerships between government, the tourism industry and international markets. De Lille added that government will continue strengthening these relationships through joint marketing initiatives across Africa while expanding its reach into strategic overseas markets.
The Minister also noted that the positive trend reinforces government’s commitment to improving ease of access for travellers, expanding international air connectivity and positioning South Africa as a destination of choice for both leisure and business travel.
For Cape Town and the Western Cape, which remain among the country’s biggest tourism drawcards, the continued increase in international arrivals is expected to support visitor spending, hospitality businesses and the broader tourism value chain as South Africa heads into the second half of 2026.