DocumentOngoingNews

Tourism growth reflects confidence in South Africa

GCIS / SAnewsRef: GOVNEWS-84353 at https://www.sanews.gov.za

Official source

Source domain: sanews.gov.za

Collected on 16 September 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

What this means

This is a government news/opinion piece published on SAnews by GCIS, written by Nomonde Mnukwa and dated Wednesday, September 16, 2026, marking Tourism Month. It reports that South Africa welcomed more than 5.58 million international tourists between January and June 2026, a 12.3% increase year on year, with 823 365 arrivals in June 2026 alone. It highlights supporting measures such as a strategic partnership between the departments of Tourism and Public Works and Infrastructure and the newly launched Electronic Travel Authorisation system, which lets eligible travellers apply online without visiting a mission or visa processing centre.

What this document offers

Read out of this document by Govermate's AI, in its own words. Each one quotes the line it came from — confirm on the official source before acting.

online travel authorisation applicationOngoing

Electronic Travel Authorisation system

South Africa has launched an Electronic Travel Authorisation system that lets eligible travellers apply online from anywhere in the world, without having to visit a South African mission or visa processing centre. The system is intended to make travel to South Africa easier, faster and more predictable while strengthening border security, and is expected to expand over time beyond visitor authorisations to work, study and other visa categories.

Who it is for: eligible travellers wishing to travel to South Africa
How to act on it: Apply online from anywhere in the world; no visit to a South African mission or visa processing centre is required

The document's recorded date is 16 September 2026. Confirm on the official source.

Facts

Reference

GOVNEWS-84353 at https://www.sanews.gov.za

Key Takeaways

Tourism Month, September
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
By Nomonde Mnukwa
more than 5.58 million international tourists, January to June 2026
12.3% increase compared with the same period last year
14.3% increase in arrivals from the rest of Africa
5.6% growth in overseas arrivals
823 365 international tourist arrivals in June 2026
9.8% increase compared with June 2025
June 2026 arrivals exceeded pre-pandemic June 2019 levels by 12.1%
strategic partnership between the departments of Tourism and Public Works and Infrastructure
Electronic Travel Authorisation system
Nomonde Mnukwa
Statistics South Africa
Department of Tourism
Public Works and Infrastructure
GCIS / SAnews

Dates

Opening Date

16 September 2026