South Africa Records 989,000 International Arrivals in April 2026, Highest Monthly Growth This Year
South Africa welcomed 989,329 international tourist arrivals in April 2026, representing a 19.5 per cent increase compared to April 2025 and the country's strongest monthly year-on-year growth recorded so far this year. According to the latest Statistics South Africa International Tourism Report, total arrivals for the first four months of 2026 reached 3,899,358 - a 14.1 per cent increase on the same period in 2025, translating to an additional 482,935 international visitors. Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille welcomed the figures, noting that South Africa had "not only defended its markets but has also grown in some regions" despite ongoing Middle East conflict causing global flight disruptions and fare increases. Notable source market growth included Singapore, up 70.5 per cent to 938 arrivals, and Brazil, up 37.5 per cent to 5,953 arrivals in April.
The strong performance is expected to be further supported by new international air routes launching in the coming months. LATAM Airlines is set to begin three weekly direct flights between São Paulo and Cape Town in July 2026, brought forward from an original September launch date due to increased demand, while Air Europa launched its inaugural Madrid – Johannesburg service on 24 June 2026. Monthly arrival figures have shown consistent growth throughout the year, with 1,133,533 arrivals recorded in January, 864,534 in February, and 911,962 in March. The Tourism Ministry attributed the sustained growth to the resilience of South Africa's tourism industry in the face of mounting pressure on global aviation networks and rising international travel costs.
Source: IOL