Zimbabwe Tourists Overtake UK, Germany, China And Others To Lead Surge In South Africa’s Record 2025 Arrivals
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The boom reflects strong regional demand for luxury safaris, fine dining and high‑end stays, exceeding pre‑pandemic levels and 2024 recovery targets, driven by SAT, government and industry efforts.
Zimbabwean visitors flocked to Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town for leisure, business and medical tourism; December 2025 alone saw 209,927 arrivals from Zimbabwe, the highest from any African country.
Tourism contributes nearly 9% to SA GDP and supports 1.8 million jobs (one per 13 visitors), with every 13 arrivals creating one job; the sector now drives economic recovery post‑pandemic.
Despite advisories from Canada, US and China, long‑haul Europe/Asia grew steadily alongside Africa’s dominance (76% of arrivals), fuelling investments like R1bn infrastructure and R2.5bn Club Med KZN.
The shift to premium experiences positions SA as a global luxury leader, with bright 2026 prospects for jobs, communities and sustained growth.
