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Hello tourists! SA visitors up 7%

Source: Tourism Update, 12/01/2016

The Department of Home Affairs has released stats showing traveller
movements for the festive holiday period.

Arrivals in South Africa over the peak period of December 1 to January
7 saw a 7% increase in foreign travellers, according to Home Affairs
Minister, Malusi Gigaba.

There were 2 003 509 foreign arrivals during this period, which is up
from the 1 872 298 foreign arrivals for the same period last year.

Speaking at a media briefing on January 12, Gigaba said the holiday
season had seen a total number of 5.3 million travellers passing
through the country`s borders, of which 3.9 million were foreign
travellers.

With regard to traveling minors, Gigaba said 284 191 foreign minors
had travelled to the country, of whom 0,6% were denied entry due to
not having the necessary travelling documents.

The period December 1, 2015 to January 7, 2016, showed an increase of
21% foreign travellers from the Middle East; 15% from Asia; 7,8% from
North America; 6,1% from Europe; 4,9% travellers from Africa; and 2,5%
from Australasia. The same period indicated a 1% decrease for foreign
arrivals from South America.

"It is quite clear that the 2016 peak period had notable increases in
traveller movement compared with 2014 and 2015," said Gigaba.

Gigaba added that the biometric pilot project had been carried out at
selected passenger processing counters during this holiday period,
with two counters at Lanseria International Airport; five at King
Shaka International Airport; eight at Cape Town International Airport;
and five counters in the transit area at OR Tambo International
Airport.

"Travellers experienced a smooth process with only limited glitches as
would be expected with any new endeavour," he said, adding that the
biometrics, photo and fingerprints of a traveller would be captured in
addition to the normal passport scanning process.

Upon submitting biometric data for the first time, Home Affairs will
capture all 10 fingerprints from foreign travellers, but subsequent
movements will require capturing only one fingerprint for
identification purposes.

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