• Statistics SA released data for foreign tourist arrivals, enabling a picture for the whole of 2022.
• In December 2022, South Africa only received 69% of the foreign visitors it had in December 2019, before the pandemic.
• In 2022, total foreign arrivals were at 70% of 2019 levels, overseas arrivals at only 60% of 2019 levels, and arrivals from other African countries at 73% of 2019 levels.
While foreign visitors to South Africa in December 2022 increased significantly since the previous year, the number is still at only 69% of visitors in December 2019 - before the pandemic.
This is according to data on arrivals in December 2022 that was released by Statistics SA on Tuesday.
Looking at data for the entire year, the only source market that exceeded its 2019 level in 2022 was Russia. Compared to 2019, arrivals from Russia in 2022 jumped to 107%.
For Lee-Ann Bac, director at the specialist tourism unit of international consulting firm BDO, the December 2022 data is, on the whole, disappointing.
`It shows [that] in December 2022, the total number of foreign tourists to SA was 677 838. This is a big jump from the 263 108 visitors in [December] 2021,` says Bac.
However, it isn`t nearly what SA achieved in 2019, namely 981 038 foreign tourists.
`Overall, demand from other African countries was low in December 2022,` says Bac.
She says the release of the December numbers means an overview of the whole of 2022 is now possible, showing that during the year, SA received 7.12 million foreign visitors, of which 1.57 million were from overseas and 5.54 million from other African countries.
In 2022, total foreign arrivals were at 70% of 2019 levels; overseas arrivals at only 60% of 2019 levels; and arrivals from other African countries at 73% of 2019 levels.
Compared to 2019, certain source markets have rebounded fairly well, according to Bac. Arrivals from the US were at 80% of 2019 levels, arrivals from Russia at 107%, and arrivals from the UK at 71% of 2019 levels.
Most European countries have been slow to rebound, however, still being at less than 65% of 2019 numbers.
`As can be expected, [arrivals from]

countries that were slow at reopening their borders are way behind 2019 numbers,` says Bac. For example, arrivals from Australia are still at only 52% compared to 2019.`
At the same time, in 2022, SA still only received 14% of the number of Chinese arrivals compared to 2019.
Hotels and attractions
Western Cape spokesperson for finance and economic opportunities, Mireille Wenger, has said that data from the South African Hotel Review, complied by STR, shows that hotel occupancy for the Western Cape stood at 72% in December 2022, representing a full recovery rate of 106% when compared to December 2019 (68.1%).
According to Wrenelle Stander, CEO of the Western Cape`s official tourism, trade, and investment promotion agency (Wesgro), data from Airports Company SA (ACSA) shows Cape Town International Airport`s domestic terminal recorded a year-high of 570 000 two-way passengers for December 2022.
International passenger performance hit 96% in December 2022 compared to December 2019 - with 270 000 two-way passengers passing through the terminal. This is a recovery of 72% in domestic and 98% in international visitors compared to the December 2019 festive period.
Cape Town Tourism`s latest travel figures reveal tourists` growing appetite for the Mother City`s attractions, which also experienced a significant recovery. Compared to 2019 figures, Groot Constantia reported a 71% recovery, Kirstenbosch was at 76%, Robben Island was at 89%, Chapmans Peak was at 95%, and Table Mountain was at almost 100%.
Cape Town`s GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World reported a total footfall of 95% of its 2019 figures this festive season. The entertainment destination said its retailers` revenues surpassed 2019 numbers as they capitalised on the increase in traffic and extended trading hours.
Cape Town Tourism`s survey of its members found that 85% said December`s performance was much better than in 2019. The respondents said the primary international source markets were the US, Germany, and the UK. V.4656

One of the highlighted topics: Critical Skills Visa.

- Key Insight: Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast track to working in South Afr...
- This matter relates to critical skills visa and its broader implications.
- Individuals are advised to seek professional guidance.

Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast trac V.6139
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One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, became a victim of identity theft in 2012 when fraudulent transactions occurred, using her personal details.

-The Pretoria High Court found that the department of home affairs had violated constitutional rights without due process.
-Only half of Lawyers for Human Rights` test group has been unblocked, while 385 000 identities remain blocked nationwide.
-LHR appeals extension, urges affected people to seek help now.

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) are intensifying pressure on the department of home affairs over the national ID-blocking crisis, accusing the state of acting too slowly to unblock qualifying individuals despite a landmark court ruling.

In January last year, the Pretoria High Court found that the department`s practice of blocking IDs without due process was unlawful and unconstitutional. One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, a Swati citizen and South African permanent resident since 1998, fell victim to identity theft in 2012 when fraudsters used her personal details.

 V.6133
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6128
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6129
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A Washington state mother and her 6-year-old son have been released after spending more than three weeks in US immigration detention due to a brief trip to Canada and a small paperwork mistake, her attorney told CNN on Saturday.

Sarah Shaw, a New Zealand citizen who has lived legally in the US since she arrived in 2021, was detained at the Blaine, Washington, Customs and Border Protection checkpoint when returning home after dropping her two oldest children off at the Vancouver airport for a flight to visit their grandparents in New Zealand. Shaw, 33, chose the flight out of Vancouver because it was direct and she didn`t want her children to have to navigate a layover alone, her attorney Minda Thorward, told CNN.

 V.6130
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On 22 July 2025, the Gauteng High Court dismissed Sitrusrand Boerdery`s review of the Department of Employment and Labour`s refusal to issue a Working Conditions and Salary Benchmarking Certificate, an essential precondition for obtaining corporate visas under the Immigration Act.

Acting Judge Kekana AJ held that the Department`s decision was lawful, rational and procedurally fair. This judgment illustrates how businesses can - and must - structure their corporate visa applications to meet statutory requirements, and how legal practitioners should prepare robust review challenges when administrative authorities decline to recommend foreign-work permits.

 V.6131
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The United States could forfeit an estimated 9.4 billion dollars in visitor spending over the next three years following the introduction of a new 250 dollars `visa integrity fee,` according to industry groups, who warn the policy risks undermining tourism and costing thousands of jobs.
The United States’ decision to introduce a 250 dollars `visa integrity fee` on international visitors has triggered sharp criticism from the global tourism industry, with officials warning that the measure could deter millions of travellers and cost the U.S. economy billions.
The 250dollar `visa integrity fee,` part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed on July 4, 2025, will take effect later this year. According to immigration law firm Envoy Global, it applies to all nonimmigrant visa holders which include students, tourists, temporary workers, and business visitors particularly from African countries. V.6132
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6127
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1. Right to Legal Representation•You have the right to consult with a legal representative.•Contact an immigration practitioner, legal aid clinic, or attorney urgently.•Do not sign any documents without understanding them fully. 2. Section 34 of the Immigration Act•You must be brought to court with 48 hours to confirm arrest but you can remain locked up very long as courts figure out what to do with you •If you`re found to be illegally in South Africa, you may be detained for up to 30 days (extendable by a magistrate) pending deportation.•BUT this cannot happen arbitrarily. You must be informed of your rights, and Home Affairs must follow due process.- becomes a nightmare , you could lose your job , business , place to stay V.6121
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Driving for Bolt, Uber, Mr D, or Checkers Sixty60?If you`re undocumented, you`re risking more than just your income.The Risks if You`re Not Legal: - Vehicle impoundment - Heavy fines - Arrest & deportation - Permanent bans from working in SA V.6122
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