South Africa and Morocco report significant tourism growth

African tourism markets are experiencing significant growth, with South Africa and Morocco reporting strong arrival numbers through August 2026.

South Africa welcomed nearly 7.5 million international tourists from January to August, marking a 12 percent increase in arrivals during the first half of the year according to UN Tourism. The provinces of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, key gateways to national parks, saw higher visitor numbers than Gauteng. While the Western Cape accounted for 9.4 percent of arrivals, KwaZulu-Natal saw a decline, partly due to a 28.6 percent drop in international flights to Durban. Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille noted that this demand is expected to drive investment and job creation.

Morocco reported a record-breaking August with over 2 million monthly visitors, contributing to a total of 14.1 million tourists in the first eight months of 2026. This represents a 4.5 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025. Morocco remains a leader in African tourism, aiming to reach 26 million annual visitors by 2030. Significant growth was observed in European markets, particularly from Poland, where arrivals surged by 32 percent.