IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), final 2019 and provisional 2020 and 2021 covers updated and new provisional figures for the reference years 2020 and 2021 as well as the final results for 2019. The TSA for 2021 (first provisional estimates) captures the continuing impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in South Africa on the tourism sector over the period January 2021 to December 2021. It provides an overview of the role that tourism plays in South Africa and provides information on the contribution of tourism to the South African economy in terms of production, expenditure and employment.

Tourism direct gross value added (TDGVA) increased from R108 757 million in 2020 to R128 746 million in 2021 (18,4% increase). Tourism direct gross domestic product (TDGDP) increased from R117 946 million in 2020 to R140 095 million in 2021 (18,8% increase). The tourism sector directly employed 492 561 persons in 2021, an increase of 8,5% or 38 447 employees compared with 2020. The tourism share of total employment increased from 3,0% in 2020 to 3,4% in 2021.

The year 2021 saw 2 663 861 non-resident visitors to South Africa compared with 3 886 583 non-resident visitors in 2020 and 14 797 472 non-resident visitors in 2019. Of the 2 663 861 non-resident visitors in 2021, 408 162 (or 15,3%) were same-day visitors and 2 255 699 (or 84,7%) were tourists.

For tourism consumption (expenditure), the trends in 2021 (compared with 2020) were as follows:

·     tourism exports (inbound tourism expenditure) decreased by 33,0% to R24 014 million compared with a 70,5% decrease in the previous period;

·     tourism imports (outbound tourism expenditure) increased by 8,2% to R24 803 million compared with a 71,4% decrease in the previous period;

·     domestic tourism expenditure increased by 27,3% to R286 253 million compared with a 32,7% decrease in the previous period; and

·     internal tourism expenditure increased by 19,0% to R310 267 million compared with a 42,8% decrease in the previous period.