By Simon Nare
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has moved swiftly to allay fears for visitors and tourists from the United States that could have been triggered by a travel advisory from that country, which warns them about the dangers when vacationing in South Africa.
In an updated travel advisory posted on 27 May 2025, the US Consulate in South Africa downgraded the country to level 2, which stipulated visitors should exercise increased caution as violent crime including robbery, rape, carjacking and muggings were common.
It further warned that violent crimes were common in big cities and kidnappers targeted US citizens and other foreign nationals to steal money, and although rare, in some instances foreign nationals are kidnapped and ransoms demanded from their families.
“Captors often force victims to withdraw cash or give online account passwords before they are let go. There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in South Africa,” warns the advisory.
De Lille said she had noted the advisory update and respected the sovereign right of every country to provide guidance to its citizens travelling abroad, but it was important to offer context
The minister committed the country to ensuring the safety, comfort and enjoyment of all visitors, saying their safety remained a national priority.
This priority, she added, was actively addressed through a range of coordinated efforts between government, law enforcement, the tourism sector and local communities.
“Our tourism infrastructure remains robust and resilient, with several established safety measures, including increased security presence in key tourism nodes, supported by trained tourism monitors stationed at popular attractions and visitor hotspots and ongoing collaboration between government, law enforcement and the private sector to ensure proactive safety monitoring and swift incident response,” she said.
De Lille said South Africa remained one of the most sought-after and rewarding travel destinations in the world — known for its natural beauty, cultural diversity and the warm hospitality of its people.
She admitted that while challenges such as crime existed, as they did in many countries globally, the majority of international visitors travelled safely and left with positive, enriching experiences.
The minister told a parliamentary portfolio committee earlier this week that tourism from the US continued to surge, with more than a 10% increase in visitors, despite persistent claims of a so-called “white genocide” in South Africa.
In a statement responding to the updated advisory, the minister said travel demand from the US remained robust and in 2024, arrivals from that country returned to pre-pandemic levels and surpassed the United Kingdom as South Africa’s source market.
“In the first four months of 2025 alone, South Africa welcomed 111,491 visitors from the USA — reaffirming the destination’s enduring appeal and strong market confidence.
“We understand that travellers may have concerns, and we encourage all visitors to exercise the same level of vigilance and awareness they would when visiting any international destination,” she said.
De Lille appealed to the media and government agencies across the world to report on South Africa with accuracy and balance. She added that reports should recognise the distinction between isolated incidents and the broader reality.
The minister reassured travellers that South Africa remained open, welcoming and committed to ensuring a safe and pleasurable visit and that her department and the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation would continue to engage US authorities on the matter.
“We look forward to continuing to welcome travellers from the United States and across the globe to share in the richness of our landscapes, the depth of our culture and the warmth of our people,” she said.
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