![\"No](\"https:\/\/www.statssa.gov.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/No-of-tourists-final.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nRegional changes in tourist arrivals<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cOther\u201d African countries have shown a notable recovery by exceeding the pre-pandemic levels by 11,9% from 38\u00a0501 tourists in Q4 of 2019 to 43\u00a0093 tourists in Q4 of 2023. There is, however, a possibility for a complete recovery for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and overseas region, as overseas tourist arrivals have reached 78,5% of 2019 levels and SADC has reached 90,2%.<\/p>\n A year-on-year comparison between 2022 and 2023 for quarter four shows that the number of overseas tourists increased by 17,8% (from 501\u00a0627 in quarter four of 2022 to 591\u00a0011 in quarter four of 2023). Comparisons between the fourth quarters of 2022 and 2023 show that the number of SADC tourists increased by 32,5% (from 1\u00a0273\u00a0947 in quarter four of 2022 to 1\u00a0687\u00a0754 in quarter four of 2023)<\/p>\n Tourists from \u2018other\u2019 African countries increased by 41,1% (from 30\u00a0536 in quarter four of 2022 to 43\u00a0093 in quarter four of 2023) year-on-year. East and Central Africa had the largest increase of 51,2% (from 15\u00a0704 in quarter four of 2022 to 23\u00a0749 in quarter four of 2023), followed by West Africa which increased by 36,5% (from 11\u00a0491 in quarter four of 2022 to 15\u00a0686 in quarter four of 2023) and North Africa which increased by 9,5% (from 3\u00a0341 in quarter four of 2022 to 3\u00a0658 in quarter four of 2023).<\/p>\n Purpose and average number of day tourists spent in South Africa<\/strong> In the recovery phase, the tourism industry is witnessing a gradual resurgence, after it faced unprecedented challenges during the outbreak.<\/p>\n For more information, download the full report here.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Tourist arrivals in South Africa demonstrated a positive trend, with improvements in the numbers recorded from month to month during the period spanning 2021 to 2023. In December 2023, 3,5 million travellers were recorded at South African ports of entry\/exit, surpassing the figures for both November 2023, which stood at 2,6 million, and December 2022, read more »<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nIn December 2023, the majority of tourists (97,9%) came for holidays whilst businesspersons, students and medical treatment constituted 1,9%; 0,2%, and less than 0,1% respectively. On average, tourists from overseas and \u2018other\u2019 African countries spent more days (about five to seven days per month) in the country compared to SADC residents who spent an average of two days in a month. On average, tourists from overseas spend more days in the warmer months (around seven days).<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n