South Africa welcomed more than 4.2 million foreign tourists between January and May 2026, marking a 12.8 per cent increase compared with the same period last year, TV BRICS reported, citing the South African government’s website.
The country’s Ministry of Tourism attributed the growth to infrastructure development and the expansion of direct international flights. Visitor numbers from the rest of the African continent increased by 14.7 per cent, while tourist arrivals from South America showed exponential growth. This was primarily driven by travellers from Brazil, with arrivals rising by 40.6 per cent from 4,700 to 6,600 visitors.
“These results affirm that our decision to invest in tourism infrastructure, improve ease of access and diversify our tourism offerings across the country is paying off. South Africa’s greatest competitive advantage lies in the combination of our people, our natural beauty, our rich heritage and our world-class infrastructure,” South Africa’s Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille said.
The growth in South American visitors will be further supported by the launch of a new direct flight route between Sao Paulo and Cape Town, which began operating on 2 July with three flights a week.
De Lille noted that every new air link creates additional opportunities for tourism, trade, and investment. She added that the expansion of the route network is in line with the government’s approved strategy to strengthen direct air links and tap into new markets.
