South Africa - Travel & Tourism South Africa - Travel & Tourism
Overview
Although a country of 57 million people, relatively few South Africans have the financial resources to travel abroad. Nonetheless the number of visitors from South Africa travelling to the U.S. increased by 9.6% from FY2017 to FY 2018. Outbound travel presents a good opportunity for the U.S. tourism industry.Market Trends
Forecasts indicate an increase in South African outbound travel over the next few years, and industry has taken notice.
In April 2019, United Airlines announced a new route from New York/Newark Liberty International Airport to Cape Town International Airport scheduled to start in December 2019. This is the first non-stop flight between Cape Town and the United States and compliments a number of carriers already in the market. Delta has daily flights from Johannesburg to Atlanta and South African Airways offers direct flights to Washington DC and New York City. Other airline carriers report an increase of 26% of South African travelers going to the U.S. through their network for the calendar year 2017-2018, and the trend has continued in 2019.
The United States remains a popular destination for South African travelers, the most popular type of travel being packaged trips. The duration of stays ranges from 10 days to four weeks, often with at least 2-3 nights in the metropolitan districts of New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando and Las Vegas. The inclusion of attractions to major destinations, such as theme parks and tours is preferred, especially amongst first time visitors, while the use of online booking sites such as Viator, is growing in popularity amongst second-time visitors. Also high on the agenda for South African tourists in the U.S. is shopping and family oriented activities.
In the past, the visa process and the relatively few flights to the U.S. have played a role in the domestic travel industry marketing the U.S. as a travel destination. But the trend is slowly changing as travel agencies are looking for more exposure and new destinations. The U.S. Embassy and consulates across South Africa are working with local partners to better clarify the visa process. The granting of 10-year visas to South Africans also compares favorably to other competing destinations such as the UK and the Far East.
Travel Statistics
| Total Number of South Africans (SA) travelling to the U.S., 2018 | 108,472 |
| Total spending in the U.S., 2018 | $ 1,034,000,000 |
| State | City |
| New York | New York |
| California | Los Angeles |
| Florida | Orlando |
| Nevada | Las Vegas |
| Illinois | Chicago |
| Texas | Dallas |
| Maryland | Washington DC |
| Georgia | Atlanta |
| Louisiana | New Orleans |
| Colorado | Denver |
Web Resources
South African Department of Tourismhttps://www.tourism.gov.za/Pages/home.aspx
Association of Southern African Travel Agents (ASATA)
https://www.asata.co.za/
For More Information, the U.S. Commercial Service, South Africa, can be contacted via email:
Sanjay.Harryparshad@trade.gov, Phone: +27 (0)31 305 7600 X3150, or visit our Website at http://export.gov/southafrica/index.asp
Prepared by the International Trade Administration. With its network of more than 100 offices across the United States and in more than 75 markets, the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.