IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The routine data collected by the Department of Home Affairs’ (DHA) immigration officers at the ports of entry into and out of South Africa shows that a total of 3 443 488 travellers (arrivals, departures and transits) passed through South African ports of entry/exit in September 2019. As presented in Table 1 on page 12, these travellers were made up of 1 065 165 South African residents and 2 378 323 foreign travellers. A further breakdown of the figures for South African residents indicates that there were 532 228 arrivals, 532 049 departures and 888 travellers in transit. The corresponding volume for foreign arrivals, departures and travellers in transit was 1 219 616, 1 080 483 and 78 224, respectively.

A comparison between the movements in September 2018 and September 2019 indicates that the volume of arrivals and departures increased for South African residents but decreased for foreign travellers. Travellers in transit increased for both groups of travellers. For South African residents, the volume of arrivals increased by 8,2% (from 491 800 in September 2018 to 532 228 in September 2019). Departures increased by 1,9% (from 522 365 in September 2018 to 532 049 in September 2019), and transits increased by 7,8% (from 824 in September 2018 to 888 in September 2019). For foreign travellers, arrivals decreased by 5,7% (from 1 293 615 in September 2018 to 1 219 616 in September 2019), departures decreased by 7,1% (from 1 162 946 in September 2018 to 1 080 483 in September 2019), and transits increased by 4,7% (from 74 745 in September 2018 to 78 224 in September 2019).

A comparison between the movements in August 2019 and September 2019 indicates that the volume of arrivals and departures increased for South African residents but decreased for foreign travellers. Travellers in transit decreased for both groups of travellers. For South African residents, the volume of arrivals increased by 10,3% (from 482 712 in August 2019 to 532 228 in September 2019), departures increased by 1,7% (from 522 927 in August 2019 to 532 049 in September 2019), and transits decreased by 9,0% (from 976 in August 2019 to 888 in September 2019). For foreign travellers, arrivals decreased by 11,5% (from 1 377 914 in August 2019 to 1 219 616 in September 2019), departures decreased by 11,1% (from 1 215 970 in August 2019 to 1 080 483 in September 2019), and transits decreased by 20,4% (from 98 320 in August 2019 to 78 224 in September 2019).

Detailed information on the departure of travellers is not available in the movement control system. Data on the purpose of travel and the number of days South African residents intend to spend or spent abroad are not collected by the DHA. It is therefore not possible to categorise South African residents as tourists or non-tourists. However, some data are available on foreign arrivals for this categorisation.

As presented in Table 1 on page 12, in September 2019, 87 160 (7,1%) of foreign arrivals were classified as non-visitors while 1 132 456 (92,9%) were classified as visitors. The visitors were categorised into three groups:

      i.        Arrivals only – comprising visitors who entered the country in September 2019 but did not depart in September 2019 [303 721 (26,8%)];

     ii.        Single trips – visitors who came to South Africa once in September 2019 and left in September 2019 [403 817 (35,7%)]; and

    iii.        Multiple trips – visitors who came to and left South Africa more than once in September 2019 [424 918 (37,5%)].

Visitors were further grouped as same-day visitors and overnight visitors (tourists). In September 2019, there were 352 075 (31,1%) same-day visitors and 780 381 (68,9%) tourists. Between September 2018 and September 2019, the volume of same-day visitors decreased by 5,8% (from 373 733 in September 2018 to 352 075 in September 2019) and that of tourists decreased by 7,4% (from 842 361 in September 2018 to 780 381 in September 2019). Between August 2019 and September 2019, the volume of same-day visitors decreased by 10,4% (from 392 927 in August 2019 to 352 075 in September 2019), and tourists decreased by 13,0% (from 896 978 in August 2019 to 780 381 in September 2019).