International tourism trends show mixed recovery in Australia and South Africa

International tourism trends show mixed results in Australia and South Africa. In Australia, the number of international visitors for the 12 months ending June 2026 reached 8.43 million, which is lower than the 8.6 million recorded in the year to June 2019. While annual spending rose by 16% to $40.5 billion compared to 2025, quarterly data for the April-June period showed a decline in visitors, spending, and nights spent. Significant drops in spending were noted from Chinese, Indian, and New Zealand visitors. Regionally, Western Australia saw a 14% increase in visitors, while Canberra experienced an 18% decrease.

In South Africa, August tourist arrivals increased by 5.3% year-on-year, though they remain 4.6% below pre-pandemic levels. While arrivals from Europe and certain markets like Russia and Belgium grew, the Asian market remains the weakest, with arrivals 30.7% below August 2019 levels. Specifically, arrivals from China and India declined by 20% and 22.5% respectively. Notably, New Zealand arrivals surged by 128.6% compared to August 2025, coinciding with a rugby series.