Page 34 - TKZN Annual Report 2023/2024

The observed recovery is almost entirely attributable to domestic and regional tourism since international travel has been negligible. This demonstrates the short-term necessity to shift focus to servicing and growing the domestic and regional market. South African travel and tourism product owners have tended to discount the value of the African and domestic tourist; and have displayed little interest in developing packages or experiences that meet this market’s needs. It seems that for the near to medium term it will simply not be possible to continue to neglect this more stable, if less profitable, market segment.
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Tourism Environment
In 2022, International tourist spend in South Africa totalled R94.7 billion, of which KZN received R6.2 billion of total spend. The province’s share of international visitors to the country has consistently averaged 7-8% over the last five years, apart from 2020 when the country’s borders were closed to international tourists for most of the year. In 2023, KZN welcomed 7,6% of SA’s total international arrivals, which equates to approximately 646 222 international arrivals.
Figure 11: International arrivals, KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa 2023
The international arrivals into South Africa in 2023 was about 80% of arrivals in 2019. The growth has continued as airline supply has been increased to match demand.
Figure12: Foreign tourist arrivals into South African airports 2020 – 2023
32 TOURISM KWAZULU-NATAL ANNUAL REPORT 2023/2024