By Akani Nkuna
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has welcomed a surge in international arrivals in 2025, describing it as the highest on record and a clear indication of South Africa’s global competitiveness and the sector’s role in driving economic growth.
Speaking during a media briefing in Hatfield, Pretoria, on Tuesday, De Lille said South Africa recorded 10.84 million international visitors between January and December 2025, representing a 17.6% increase year-on-year.
She said the growth was further boosted after South Africa was named Best Country in Africa for 2025 by the Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards, which she attributed to “deliberate policy choices, focused implementation and strong collaboration between government and the private sector”.
“Cabinet has endorsed the Tourism Growth Partnership Plan, developed jointly with industry and led by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa. The plan is anchored on five priorities and supported by a real-time performance
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