Tourism sector sees spending surge amid seasonal visitor decline

DESPITE a decline in the number of international tourists visiting South Africa in February, recent reveals reveal an encouraging trend in the tourism industry’s recovery.

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Month-on-month rate of growth in travellers between January and February fell, which is not surprising given that January falls outside peak season. Yet, the same South African destinations sold better.

Statistics South Africa’s most recent figures show that, when measured in current prices, income for the tourist accommodation industry increased by 9.6% in January 2024, compared with January 2023. This, it said, was due to a 4.5% increase in the number of nights each person stayed, and an 11.7% increase in the average income per stay unit night sold.

Hotels saw the biggest increase, the principal said.

In addition, accommodation income also increased in the three months to January this year when compared to the same period a year ago.

Pleasingly, year-on-year, February showed a high single digit rate of an increase in international tourists indicating a movement towards preCovid-19 rates. This is despite 2024 being marred by elections across the globe, which would have resulted in travelers being less confident about holidays and other trips.

When compared to last February, international arrivals gained 7.5%, even though this was a 21.8% month-on-month decline.