South Africa welcomed more than 5.5 million international tourists in the first six months of 2026, marking a 12.3% increase compared with the same period last year.
The Department of Tourism’s latest figures show that 5 584 473 international visitors arrived between January and June, with growth recorded across both regional and overseas markets.
African arrivals led the recovery, climbing 14.3% during the period, while overseas visitor numbers rose by 5.6%. The figures point to sustained interest in South Africa as a travel destination following the sector’s post-pandemic rebuilding.
June alone brought 823 365 international tourists to the country, representing a 9.8% year-on-year increase. Arrivals from African countries grew by 12.1% compared with June 2025.
The United States maintained its position as South Africa’s largest overseas source market for the second month running in June, with 40 566 American visitors recorded.
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille said the results reflected government’s strategy to broaden the country’s tourism products and strengthen industry partnerships.
“The deliberate decision to diversify our tourism products is yielding positive results. 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,” de Lille said.
The minister said government plans to continue joint marketing initiatives across Africa while expanding its presence in key overseas markets.
De Lille added that the figures supported government’s focus on improving traveller access, expanding air connectivity and positioning South Africa as a destination for both leisure and business travel.
The tourism sector has been identified as a key driver of economic growth and job creation, with the industry employing hundreds of thousands of people across hospitality, transport and related services.
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