South Africa Source Tourism Insight by Domestic and Outbound Tourism, Key Destinations and Tourist Profiles, 2023 Update

South Africa Source Tourism Market Report Overview

The South Africa source tourism market witnessed 4.06 million outbound trips in 2022. The domestic travel in the country was 51.1 million in the same year. International travel recovery from South Africa is expected to grow consistently, with projections indicating that it may cross pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2023 itself. The South African tourism market is going to rely heavily on visiting friends and relatives (VFR) and leisure travel to be the drivers of its recovery. Sun and beach destinations are forecasted to be the popular choices for travelers. Adventure/sports travel is also projected to improve the recovery of the tourism sector. Most outbound flows from South Africa were to other nearby Southern African countries, Mozambique being the main destination for international travel in 2022.

The South Africa source tourism market research report provides a thorough insight into the South Africa domestic and outbound tourism market. The report looks at the profiles of South African tourists and summarizes the key reasons that they travel. It also offers an in-depth analysis of traveler flows, spending patterns, main destination markets, and current and future opportunities for tourism businesses seeking to tap into the South Africa outbound travel market.

South Africa Source Tourism Market Dynamics

The most important source of domestic travel in South Africa is VFR. This is because of the multiple rounds of travel restrictions due to the pandemic; South African travelers now are reconnecting with their loved ones. Hybrid working policies rolled out by many businesses are also making VFR easy for travelers. Wedding-related travel is also a factor in the rise in VFR trips. Land transport, in general by minibus taxis and personal cars is the most preferred mode of transport of South Africans, when considering domestic travel. Most of all domestic trips were undertaken by land.

Couples are the most common type of South African travelers. The preference for couple travel can suggest demand for sun and beach and luxury vacations. Many travelers also choose an adventure/sport type of holiday. This could also be attributed to the high percentage of trips taken by couples. The age group of 35 to 49 is the most active demographic when it comes to travel.

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South Africa Source Tourism Market Segments

The key segments in the South Africa source tourism market are domestic tourism and outbound tourism. Domestic tourism was the leading segment in the South Africa source tourism market in 2022.

Domestic Tourism: Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) has always been the key driver of domestic travel for South Africa. People in South Africa have strong and spread-out familial ties across the country, and the desire to meet with loved ones after a period of lockdowns and limitations drove a large portion of domestic travel. Furthermore, minibus taxis are reportedly more accessible than trains and air travel, due to route flexibility and land travel being well supported by well-developed road infrastructure in South Africa. This mode is also the most convenient for tourists because of the flexibility and freedom it provides to explore varied natural landscapes and take breaks as and when required.

Outbound Tourism: Based on the projections of GlobalData, it is anticipated that the number of international departures from South Africa will surpass the levels observed in 2019 by the end of 2023. As per GlobalData, VFR is the primary purpose of outbound travel for South African travelers, in 2022. The South African tourism industry is thus expected to rely very heavily on its robust VFR traffic, to spearhead the recovery efforts of the travel and tourism industry post-COVID-19. South Africa also attracts a sizable number of immigrants from Europe and North America. As a result, there is likely to be a significant number of economic migrants traveling to their origin country for VFR, especially to nearby African countries which are concentrated in South Africa’s top international departures destinations.

South Africa Source Tourism Market Analysis by Segments, 2022 (%)

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South Africa Source Tourism Market Segmentation by Holiday Types

The types of holidays preferred by South African tourists are visiting friends or family, sun and beach holidays, city break, cultural holidays, cruise, adventure/sports holidays, multi-stop trips, wellness/medical holidays, eco holidays, religious holidays, gastronomical holidays, wedding related holidays, and LGBTQIA+ holidays, among others. Most people tended to opt for a vacation that involved basking in the sun and enjoying the beach in South Africa. KwaZulu-Natal is the most popular domestic destination. It has the best swimming conditions and many beach resorts.

South Africa Source Tourism Market Analysis by Holiday Types

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Segments Covered in the Report

South Africa Source Tourism Market Segments Outlook

• Domestic Tourism
• Outbound Tourism

South Africa Source Tourism Market Holiday Types

• Visiting Friends or Family
• Sun and Beach Holidays
• City Break
• Cultural Holidays
• Cruise
• Adventure/Sport Holidays
• Multi-Stop Trips
• Wellness/Medical Holidays
• Eco Holidays
• Religious Holidays
• Gastronomical Holidays
• Wedding Related Holidays
• LGBTQIA+ Holidays

Scope

This report provides an in-depth analysis of traveler flows, spending patterns, main destination markets, as well as current and future opportunities for tourism businesses seeking to tap into the South Africa outbound travel market.

Reasons to Buy

• This report provides a clear insight into developments in South Africa’s domestic and outbound tourism markets.
• The report uses data and analysis to discuss future trends related to domestic trips, international departures, traveler spending, and main destination markets.
• The report explores the different profiles of South Africa tourists and the reasons that they travel, hence providing insight into the trends in different segments of the market.
• The reader gains a strong understanding of the opportunities in the country, as well as the risks, to support better business decisions.