IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

In September 2018, 3 546 295 travellers (arrivals, departures and transits) passed through South Africa's ports of entry. They were made up of 1 014 989 South African residents and 2 531 306 foreign travellers.

Foreign arrivals, 1 293 615 were made up of 77 521 non-visitors and 1 216 094 visitors.

The visitors were broken down as follows:

• 373 733 who arrived and departed on the same day, and
• 842 361 who stayed overnight (tourists).

• Overseas tourists (209 185), who increased by 0,2% from 208 720 in September 2017.
• The highest increase, 16,1% was for tourists from Brazil (from 5 493 in September 2017 to 6 377 in September 2018), followed by Germany, 4,8% (from 26 282 in September 2017 to 27 536 in September 2018).
• Tourists from SADC (616 277), who increased by 1,4% from 608 003 in September 2017.
• The highest increase, 40,0% was for tourists from Angola (from 3 429 in September 2017 to 4 802 in September 2018), followed by Malawi, 17,5% (from 15 873 in September 2017 to 18 650 in September 2018).
• Tourists from 'other' African countries (15 714), who increased by 4,4% from 15 057 in September 2017.
• The highest increase, 37,3% was for tourists from The Sudan (from 185 in September 2017 to 254 in September 2018) , followed by Ghana, 22,6% (from 1 598 in September 2017 to 1 959 in September 2018).
• 1 185 tourists, whose country of origin were unspecified.

About 597 729 (71,0%) of tourists used road transport and 244 623 (29,0%) used air transport, while a smaller number, 9 ( less than 0,1%) used sea transport.

The majority of tourists, 816 157 (96,9%) were on holiday compared to 20 224 (2,4%); 5 362 (0,6%) and 618 (0,1%) who were in South Africa for business, study purposes and for medical treatment respectively. Tourists were made up of 466 995 (55,4%) males and 375 366 (44,6%) females.