South Africa (SA) welcomed nearly 10.5 million international visitors in 2025, marking a 17.6% increase on the previous year.
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille said the figure is the highest since 2018, with arrivals up 26% compared to 2019.
Speaking at a briefing in Pretoria ahead of Meetings Africa 2026, De Lille said the country’s tourism sector has moved beyond Covid recovery.
“We are not recovering anymore; we are growing,” she said. “It is no surprise that SA was named Best Destination in Africa 2025 by the Travel Weekly Reader’s Choice Awards. This is the result of deliberate policy choices.”
De Lille noted that careful planning and investment have helped position SA as a top destination for travellers from across the globe, with growth expected to continue in the coming year.
–ChannelAfrica–
