In November 2023, South Africa witnessed a substantial influx of overseas visitors, as reported by Statistics SA, showcasing the latest tourism and immigration figures for the month. According to data collected by the Department of Home Affairs’ immigration officers, a total of 2,582,023 travelers, encompassing arrivals, departures, and transits, passed through South African ports during this period.
The breakdown of these figures reveals that 647,542 were South African residents, while 1,934,481 were foreign travelers. Further examination of the data indicates 323,797 arrivals, 323,263 departures, and 482 travelers in transit for South African residents. For foreign travelers, the corresponding figures were 1,015,584 arrivals, 880,886 departures, and 38,011 in transit.
Comparing October 2023 and November 2023, a decline in arrivals and departures was observed for South African residents, but an increase was noted for foreign travelers. Transit volumes increased for both groups. South African resident arrivals decreased by 20.1%, departures by 9.8%, and transit increased by 2.8%. Foreign traveler arrivals increased by 1.5%, departures by 4.0%, and transit by 3.5%.
When comparing November 2022 and November 2023, there was an overall increase in arrivals, departures, and transit for both groups of travelers. South African resident arrivals increased by 14.1%, departures by 14.7%, and transit by 10.0%. For foreign travelers, arrivals increased by 24.2%, departures by 29.7%, and transit by 27.3%.
The City of Cape Town reported a surge in visitor figures, with accommodation providers and attractions preparing for a robust season. The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway reported significant increases in visitor figures for October and November, exceeding the figures from the same period in 2022. The tourism industry in Cape Town anticipates a bumper season with hundreds of thousands of domestic and international travelers expected. James Vos, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, attributed the success to sustained and targeted marketing efforts, including campaigns in traditionally high-volume travel regions and emerging markets like Brazil.