South Africa’s tourism sector continues to grow and attract international visitors worldwide following the recent lifting of visa requirements for travelers from selected African countries.
According to the latest official release of international arrivals figures by Statistics South Africa for the period January-March 2024, the country reached 2.4 million, representing an increase of 15.4 percent compared to the same period in 2023, VisaGuide.World reports.
A significant increase was also seen in arrivals from African countries, which make up 74.5 percent of all international arrivals.
In this regard, Minister de Lille said that Ghana has recorded a continuous increase in terms of the number of arrivals from the African continent.
Removal of Visa Barriers Makes South Africa an Attractive Destination for Global Travelers
Minister de Lille emphasized the significant role of the visa waiver scheme between South Africa and Ghana, which was announced in November last year, in driving the outstanding performance.
As reported by VisaGuide, this scheme allows travelers to transit, depart, and stay in both countries for up to 90 days without work obligations, a policy that has undoubtedly contributed to the surge in tourism.
Based on Statistics South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Ghana stood out for their growth in tourist arrivals, with Zimbabwe recording a 21.8 per cent increase compared to the first three months of 2023, reaching a total of 613,675 arrivals.
Meanwhile, Ghana recorded a growth of 249.4 percent compared to the same period in 2023, reaching 7,904 arrivals for the period January-March 2024.
UK Remains Top European Source Market With 125,420 Tourists to South Africa
Beyond the African continent, international visitors from the Americas and Europe have also contributed to the tourism surge. Notable increases in arrivals were recorded from the United Kingdom, which remains as the top European source market, followed by North America, Germany, the Netherlands, and Russia.
South Africa welcomed 420,727 tourist arrivals from Europe from January to March 2024, representing an increase of 8.6 percent compared to 2023 figures.
Further data also revealed that the other destinations mentioned above that contributed to the growth of the sector in the number of arrivals are as follows:
America (118,194)
UK (125,420)
Germany (98,954)
Netherlands (37,548)
Russia (9,329)
The tourism sector is a significant contributor to the economy and job creation. We are determined to continue with this momentum. South Africa remains attractive and accessible for all travellers to enjoy.
Statistics South Africa
Asian markets have emerged as key growth drivers, witnessing a substantial 25.4 percent increase in arrivals from January to March 2024 compared to the previous year. China notably recorded an impressive 82 percent increase in arrivals, underscoring the country’s growing interest in South Africa’s offerings. Despite a slight dip compared to 2023, India remains a significant market for South Africa’s tourism sector.
Source link : https://visaguide.world/news/visa-waiver-scheme-boosts-africas-tourism-sector-with-2-4-million-visitors-in-1st-quarter-of-2024-alone/
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Publish date : 2024-05-14 07:00:00
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