SA September arrivals increase â`€ Brazil, France continue to perform

Source: Tourism Update, 30/11/2017

A year-on-year comparison between 2016 and 2017 for Q3 shows that the
number of overseas tourists increased by 5%.
September arrivals increased by 2,1% year-to-date, from 1 273 734 in
September 2016 to 1 300 502 in September 2017. A month-to-month
comparison indicates a small drop of 0,1%, from August 2017’s figure
of 1 302 312.
In September this year, the distribution of overseas tourists was:
• Europe: 52%, 115 148 arrivals;
• North America: 18%, 38 535 arrivals;
• Asia: 13%, 27 083 arrivals;
• Australasia: 7%, 15 031 arrivals;
• Central and South America: 4%, 8 565 arrivals;
• Middle East: 2%, 4 358 arrivals.
The ten leading countries visiting South Africa in September 2017
accounted for 75% of all tourism:
• US: 32 551 arrivals (16%);
• UK: 28 904 arrivals (14%);
• Germany: 26 282 arrivals (13%);
• Australia: 13 296 arrivals (6%);
• France: 13 102 arrivals (6%);
• The Netherlands, 12 246 arrivals (6%);
• China: 9 142 arrivals (4%);
• India: 7 676 arrivals (4%);
• Canada: 5 984 arrivals (3%);
• Brazil: 5 493 arrivals (3%).
The year-to-date stats show that the number of tourists has increased
for seven of the ten leading countries; Brazil, France, Canada,
Germany, USA, Australia and the Netherlands, but decreased for China,
UK and India.
Brazil had the largest increase of 60%, from 3 425 tourists in
September 2016 to 5 493 in September 2017. They were closely followed
by France, which increased by 51%, from 8 673 tourists in September
2016 to 13 102 in September 2017. China had the largest decrease of
10%, from 10 160 tourists in September 2016 to 9 142 in September 2017.
A year-to-date comparison for the ten leading SADC countries
travelling to South Africa shows that the number of tourists increased
for eight of the ten leading countries; Mozambique, Malawi, Botswana,
Angola, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Zambia, and decreased for
Namibia and Lesotho.
Mozambique showed the largest increase of 17%, from 94 207 tourists in
September 2016 to 110 076 in September 2017, while Namibia showed the
largest decrease of 2%, from 16 636 tourists in September 2016 to 16
258 in September 2017.
In September 2017, 88% (183 344) of overseas tourists arrived in the
country by air, while 12% (25 293) came by road and less than 0.1%
(83) arrived by sea.
Tourists from SADC countries, on the other hand, came predominantly by
road, 94% (568 973), with only 6% (39 030) arriving by air.
Quarterly and annual trends
Between Q2 and Q3 of 2017 the number of overseas tourists increased by
15%, from 545 208 in Q2 to 628 751 in Q3.
A year-on-year comparison between 2016 and 2017 for Q3 shows that the
number of overseas tourists increased by 5%, from 600 420 in 2016 to
628 751 in 2017.