IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), provisional 2020, 2021 and 2022 covers provisional figures for the reference years 2020, 2021 and 2022. It provides an overview of the role of tourism in South Africa and information on its contribution to the South African economy in terms of production, expenditure and employment.

Tourism direct gross value added (TDGVA) increased from R128 746 million in 2021 to R219 119 million in 2022 (70,2% increase). Tourism direct gross domestic product (TDGDP) increased from R140 095 million in 2021 to R234 663 million in 2022 (67,5% increase).

The tourism sector directly employed 733 385 persons in 2022, an increase of 48,9% or 240 824 employees compared with 2021. The tourism share of total employment increased from 3,4% in 2021 to 4,7% in 2022.

The year 2022 saw 7 341 796 non-resident visitors to South Africa compared with 2 663 861 non-resident visitors in 2021 and 3 886 583 non-resident visitors in 2020. Of the 7 341 796 non-resident visitors in 2022, 1 643 734 (or 22,4%) were same-day visitors and 5 698 062 (or 77,6%) were tourists.

For tourism consumption (expenditure), the trends in 2022 (compared with 2021) were as follows:

·     tourism exports (inbound tourism expenditure) increased by 196,0% to R71 087 million compared with a 33,0% decrease in the previous period;

·     tourism imports (outbound tourism expenditure) increased by 185,5% to R70 809 million compared with an 8,2% increase in the previous period;

·     domestic tourism expenditure increased by 52,2% to R435 756 million compared with a 27,3% increase in the previous period; and

·     internal tourism expenditure increased by 63,4% to R506 843 million compared with a 19,0% increase in the previous period.