This monthly statistical release provides information on South African residents and foreign travellers who entered or left South Africa specific focus is on foreign tourists who entered the country in January 2025. Tourists are classified by region and country of residence.
Number of travellers
The routine data collected by the DHA immigration officers at the ports of entry into and out of South Africa shows that a total of 3 088 791 travellers (arrivals, departures and transits) passed through South African ports in January 2025. These travellers were made up of 813 535 South African residents and 2 275 256 foreign travellers.
A further breakdown of the figures for South African residents indicates that there were 470 486 arrivals, 342 632 departures and 417 travellers in transit. The corresponding volume for foreign arrivals, departures and travellers in transit was 1 310 377, 934 182 and 30 697 respectively.
A comparison between the movements in December 2024 and January 2025 indicates that the volume of arrivals increased for both South African residents and foreign travellers. In contrast, the volume of departures and transits decreased for both groups of travellers.
For South African residents, the volume of arrivals increased by 0,6% (from 467 578 in December 2024 to 470 486 in January 2025). Departures decreased by 39,7% (from 568 257 in December 2024 to 342 632 in January 2025) and transits decreased by 21,5% (from 531 in December 2024 to 417 in January 2025).
For foreign travellers, arrivals increased by 7,8% (from 1 215 250 in December 2024 to 1 310 377 in January 2025), departures decreased by 19,0% (from 1 152 618 in December 2024 to 934 182 in January 2025), and transits decreased by 7,4% (from 33 142 in December 2024 to 30 697 in January 2025).
A comparison between the movements in January 2024 and January 2025 indicates that the volume of arrivals, departures and transits decreased for South African residents but increased for foreign travellers. For South African residents, the volume of arrivals decreased by 8,3% (from 513 276 in January 2024 to 470 486 in January 2025), departures decreased by 4,1% (from 357 249 in January 2024 to 342 632 in January 2025) and transits decreased by 17,8% (from 507 in January 2024 to 417 in January 2025).
For foreign travellers, arrivals increased by 4,6% (from 1 253 216 in January 2024 to 1 310 377 in January 2025), departures increased by 6,3% (from 879 052 in January 2024 to 934 182 in January 2025) and transits increased by 1,9% (from 30 131 in January 2024 to 30 697 in January 2025).
Mode of travel of travellers
In January 2025, road was the most common mode of travel used by 2 020 021 (65,4%) of the 3 088 791 travellers. The total number of air travellers was 1 030 313 (33,4%). Compared to air and road, a smaller number of travellers, 38 457 (1,2%) used sea into and out of South Africa.
Information on arrivals of South African residents shows that 224 380 (47,7%) came by air, 232 402 (49,4%) came by road and 13 704 (2,9%) arrived by sea. For departures, 165 060 (48,2%) used air, 164 105 (47,9%) used road and 13 467 (3,9%) left by sea. All travellers in transit, 417 (100,0%) used air.
In the case of foreign travellers, 289 975 (22,1%) arrived by air, 1 017 594 (77,7%) came by road and 2 808 (0,2%) arrived by sea. When departing South Africa, 319 784 (34,2%) foreign travellers left by air, 605 920 (64,9%) left by road and 8 478 (0,9%) left by sea. Of all travellers in transit, 30 697 (100,0%) used air.
Purpose of visit of tourists
It is observed that in January 2025, the majority of tourists, 988 932 (97,5%), were in South Africa for holiday compared to 17 655 (1,7%); 7 147 (0,7%) and 250 (less than 0,1%) who were in South Africa for business, study and medical treatment respectively.
Majority of African tourists, 781 828 (97,4%) came to South Africa for holiday. However, the following differences in terms of reasons for travel were observed between tourists from the SADC countries and ‘other’ African countries, namely:
• Holiday makers constituted 97,6% (768 434) of tourists from SADC countries compared to 89,8% (13 394)
from ‘other’ African countries. Information on the regions of ‘other’ African countries shows that 90,9% (5 784) of tourists from West Africa were on holiday, followed by tourists from East and Central Africa, 89,3% (6 331) and those from North Africa, 87,2% (1 279).
• Business persons constituted 1,8% (14 492) of tourists from SADC countries compared to 2,6% (391) from
‘other’ African countries. North Africa, 5,6% (82) had the highest proportion of tourists who came to South
Africa for business purposes, followed by East and Central Africa, 2,3% (165) and West Africa, 2,3% (144).
• Students constituted 0,6% (4 468) of tourists from SADC countries compared with 7,3% (1 095) from ‘other’ African countries. East and Central Africa, 8,0% (564) had the highest proportion of tourists who came to South Africa for study purposes, followed by North Africa, 7,1% (104) and West Africa, 6,7% (427).
• Tourists who came for medical treatment constituted less than 0,1% (166) of tourists from SADC countries,
while those from ‘other’ African countries constituted 0,3% (41). East and Central Africa, 0,4% (31) had the
highest proportion of tourists who came for medical treatment, followed by North Africa, 0,1% (2) and West
Africa, 0,1% (8).
Mode of travel of tourists
Tourists are categorised by their countries of residence and regions. Information on the specific region and country of residence of tourists and the mode of travel used to enter South Africa is provided in Annexure B on pages 15 to 18, whereas the port of entry used by tourists is provided in Annexure D on page 23. As shown in Figure 6 below, 199 586 (94,7%) overseas tourists arrived in the country by air, whilst 10 043 (4,8%) came in by road and 1 080 (0,5%) arrived by sea.
Tourists from the SADC countries, on the other hand, came predominantly by road, 738 316 (93,7%), 48 854 (6,2%) came by air and 390 (less than 0,1%) arrived by sea. The number of tourists who came into South Africa by air from ‘other’ African countries was 13 027 (87,3%); while 1 874 (12,6%) used road transport and 20 (0,1%) preferred sea.
Most tourists who arrived by road came through Beit Bridge port (237 063) and Lebombo port (169 813). The majority of tourists who came by air entered through OR Tambo International Airport (144 075) and Cape Town International Airport (115 072). Tourists who arrived by sea came through Durban Harbour (1 318) and Cape Town Harbour (172).
Copyright: P0350January2025.pdf
