IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Findings of the Domestic Tourism Survey (DTS) 2022 reflect the total number of day and overnight trips taken during the 12-month period (from January to December 2021 and January to December 2022). About 16,0 million day trips and 10,9 million overnight trips were undertaken in 2021. Furthermore, the results indicate that there were 33,1 million day trips and 23,2 million overnight trips taken within South Africa in 2022.

Total expenditure on domestic trips incurred in 2021 was approximately R36,4 billion. This constitutes day trip spending of about R23,8 billion, while spending on overnight trips amounted to R12,6 billion. On the other hand, total expenditure on domestic trips for the year 2022 was approximately R41,2 billion. This was made up of day trip spending of about R25,3 billion and spending of overnight trips that amounted to R15,9 billion. 

Gauteng was the preferred destination for day travellers for both years with 18,8% in 2021 and 20,3% in 2022. Eastern Cape followed at 12,8% in 2021 while in 2022 the second most visited province was Western Cape at 16,1%, then Limpopo at 14,3%. The results further show that in 2021, tourists (people who undertook overnight trips) mostly preferred visiting Limpopo (20,3%), Gauteng (15,1%) and KwaZulu-Natal (14,9%). In 2022, the results show that when looking at overnight trips, the most visited province was Western Cape (15,8%), followed by Limpopo at 14,9% and KwaZulu-Natal (14,7%). 

In 2022, Shopping and visiting friends and relatives were the main reasons cited by approximately 35,3 million and 21,7 million travellers, respectively. Most day travellers and tourists were more likely to use cars and taxis to reach their destinations.