During December 2003, 192 625 overseas travellers visited South Africa, a 0,9% year-on-year (y/y) increase, Statistics South Africa said on Thursday.
The total number of travellers who arrived in South Africa from mainland Africa during December 2003 was 430 734, which was a 3,8% y/y decrease. This meant the total number of foreign travellers dropped by 2,5% y/y to 641 108, with 17 749 not specifying their country of origin.
This brought the total for the year to 6 640 095 foreign visitors, a 1,4% rise on 2002. In 2002, foreign visitor numbers had risen by 10,9% y/y largely due to a 19,5% y/y surge in overseas visitors.
In 2003 the growth in overseas visitors slowed to 4,3%, while the increase from mainland Africa and unspecified countries eased to 0,2% from a 7,8% increase in 2002.
During December 2003, 192 625 overseas travellers visited South Africa, of which 168 245 arrived by air, which accounts for 87,3% of all overseas arrivals.
Of these overseas air arrivals, 115 284 (68,5%) arrived through Johannesburg International airport; 51 788 (30,8%) arrived through Cape Town International airport; 704 (0,4%) arrived through Durban International airport; and the rest, 469 (0,3%), arrived through other airports.
The number of overseas travellers arriving by road during December 2003 was 24 042 (12,5%). The number of travellers arriving by rail, sea and unspecified mode of travel was 338 (0,2%).
Of the 43 734 travellers from mainland Africa visiting South Africa during December 2003, an overwhelming majority 403 118 (93,6%) stated that they were in South Africa for holidays while 11 231 (2,6%) stated that they were on a business trip.
A further breakdown of travellers from mainland Africa was: travellers in transit were 4 916 (1,1%), those visiting for the purpose of study were 6 375 (1,5%) and those travellers arriving for the purpose of work (including contract work) were 4 653 (1,1%).
During December 2003, the number of travellers from the United Kingdom visiting South Africa was 54 047 (28,1% of total overseas travellers), making it the leading country of origin of overseas travellers.
This was followed by travellers from Germany, 24 784 (12,9%); and the United States, 17 610 (9,1%). The other main countries of origin of overseas travellers were The Netherlands, 11 929 (6,2%); France, 8 566 (4,4%); Australia, 7 415 (3,8%); Italy, 4 467 (2,3%); and Canada, 4 372 (2,3%).
During December 2003, the top eight countries in mainland Africa from which travellers arriving in South Africa came, were: Lesotho, 122 791 (28,5%); Botswana, 84 290 (19,6%); Swaziland, 84 030 (19,5%); Zimbabwe, 42 481 (9,9%); Mozambique, 36 970 (8,6%); Namibia, 29 623 (6,9%); Zambia, 10 870 (2,5%); and Malawi, 6 327 (1,5%). — I-Net Bridge