What is the future of tourism in South Africa in 2023? Visiting South Africa has increased in popularity.
Global tourism arrivals will increase by 30% in 2023, following growth of 60% in 2022, but will remain below pre-pandemic levels. South Africa is a country on the southernmost tip of the African continent, marked by several distinct ecosystems. Inland safari destination Kruger National Park is populated by big game. The Western Cape offers beaches, lush winelands around Stellenbosch and Paarl, craggy cliffs at the Cape of Good Hope, forest and lagoons along the Garden Route, and the city of Cape Town beneath flat-topped Table Mountain.
Now, for the big reveal: international arrivals to South Africa for Q1 (January to March 2023) was an impressive 2.1 million visitors, a 102.5% increase compared to the same period in 2022. While still 21.5% lower than 2019 levels, we’re gaining ground rapidly.
South Africa has a lot of “tourism potential”. Many people want to visit the country for road trips and long scenic drives through its beauty (for example, the Garden Route), coastal towns and country landscapes, sandy beaches, Table Mountain and of course there is the connection with “Madiba magic”. Interest is at an all-time high in this post-pandemic era. The hotel and Bed and Breakfast industry and culture are booming among international clientele and at home. Tourism contributes 3,7% to South Africa’s gross domestic product, more than agriculture, utilities and construction. South Africa is optimistic about its tourism prospects following the total rescinding of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) restrictive regulations and lockdowns in June 2022.
The name “South Africa” is derived from the country’s geographic location at the southern tip of Africa. Upon formation, the country was named the Union of South Africa in English and Unie van Zuid-Afrika in Dutch, reflecting its origin from the unification of four formerly separate British colonies.
The global travel and tourism sector’s post-pandemic recovery is gaining pace as the world’s pent-up desire for travel rekindles. The difference in international tourist arrivals in January 2021 and a similar period in January 2022 was as much as the growth in all of 2021. According to Booking.com, U.S. travellers are feeling overwhelmingly more optimistic about travelling in 2023 compared to 2022 and, despite some current instability felt global, nearly three quarters (73%) report that travelling will always be worth it.
The top five overseas countries with the largest number of tourists visiting South Africa were the USA, UK, Germany, The Netherlands and France. Concerning tourists arriving in South Africa from the African continent, nearly all were from SADC countries. The Western Cape is one of South Africa’s premier tourism destinations and for a good reason. ‘Africa’ has a seductive appeal for many would-be travellers, and South Africa’s reputation as a destination that offers such a wide variety of breath-taking holidays and experiences throughout the year, combined with its First World infrastructure, continues to bring more and more visitors to its superb beaches. According to Johnson (2013), impediments faced by the tourism industry include but are not limited to the high cost of travel, unfavourable climate and weather, cultural resistance, lack of visitor facilities and amenities and lack of capital.
The different sectors in tourism are accommodation, transportation, entertainment, attractions, food services, trade associations, and regulators.
There will be more guest-oriented designs and a lobby that is ever-changing, creative, and innovative. Hotels will think differently, be healthier and offer immediate satisfaction. Hotels will be a guest experience that touches all of the senses.” With the shift towards sustainable tourism, travellers can expect to see a wide range of innovations being implemented in the coming years, such as green hotels, electric transportation, and eco-friendly tour guides. Spend four nights in Cape Town, often voted the most beautiful city in the world, followed by four nights on safari in the world-renowned Kruger National Park, home to a diversity of wildlife larger than anywhere else in Africa.
South Africa’s Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille stated recently that the country had received 5.8 million tourists in 2022, which was up by 152.6% year-on-year. Victor Harbor was named Top Tourism Town, as well as being crowned the People’s Choice winner. The SA Top Tourism Town Awards recognise towns that offer amazing experiences and are committed to encouraging and developing tourism in their region. Cape Town is the tourist capital of South Africa.
The five types of tourists are travel and tourism, domestic tourism (taking holidays and trips in your own country), inbound tourism (visitors from overseas coming into the country), and outbound tourism (travelling to a different country for a visit. There are different types of travel, such as leisure travel which includes travel for holidays, cultural events and recreation.
The top 10 most-visited attractions in South Africa. V&A Waterfront, Western Cape, Table Mountain National Park, Western Cape, Kruger National Park, Limpopo/Mpumalanga, uShaka Marine World, KwaZulu-Natal, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Western Cape, Cape of Good Hope, Western Cape, and the Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal.
The tourism components 4As (Accommodation, Access, Amenities and Attractions) are the ones that tourism managers should consider in the development of the destination and ensure that all components are best suited to the quality and requirements of visitors (Haneef, 2017).
International tourism is well on its way to returning to pre-pandemic levels, with twice as many people travelling during the first quarter of 2023 than in the same period of 2022.
Sources
https://www.ipl.org/essay/Essay-On-Tourism-In-South-Africa-F347ZCJ36CEDR
https://www.sa-venues.com/wildlife/default.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drakensberg
https://tablemountain.net/
Copyright Abigail George 2023
