Monday, May 26, 2025
New research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) highlights an optimistic yet cautious outlook for South Africa’s Travel & Tourism sector in 2025. The sector is forecast to support a record-breaking 1.9 million jobs, surpassing pre-pandemic employment levels and underscoring its vital role as a key economic driver and employer in the country. This milestone reflects a strong recovery in domestic travel demand and spending, signaling resilience in a sector critical to South Africa’s economy.
Despite this positive employment trend, broader economic contributions from Travel & Tourism remain below their 2019 peak. The sector’s total GDP contribution is expected to reach ZAR 659.8 billion, accounting for 8.9% of the national economy but still trailing the 2019 high by 3.4%. Moreover, international visitor spending, while gradually increasing, is projected at ZAR 128.4 billion, lagging behind 2019 figures by a substantial margin of ZAR 37.7 billion.
As South Africa assumes the G20 Presidency in 2025, there is a unique opportunity to prioritize Travel & Tourism on the global stage, reinforcing its potential for growth through strategic leadership and collaboration. WTTC is actively supporting this agenda in partnership with the South African government and key tourism stakeholders.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of South Africa’s current Travel & Tourism landscape, employment outlook, spending patterns, and the strategic steps needed to sustain growth over the coming decade.
Employment Growth Leading the Recovery
- In 2025, Travel & Tourism employment is forecast to reach 1.9 million jobs, the highest ever recorded, representing 11.3% of all jobs in South Africa.
- This growth surpasses 2019 employment figures, highlighting the sector’s critical role as a job creator and economic stabilizer.
- In 2024, the sector employed approximately 1.8 million people, signaling steady recovery momentum.
Domestic Visitor Spending Shows Resilience
- Domestic travel continues to drive recovery, with 2025 spending projected at ZAR 445 billion, a 3.8% increase over 2019 levels.
- This robust domestic demand mitigates some of the shortfall from international tourism and fuels the hospitality and leisure sectors across the country.
International Visitor Spending and GDP Contribution Lag
- International visitor spending remains below pre-pandemic levels, forecast at ZAR 128.4 billion in 2025, still short by ZAR 37.7 billion compared to 2019.
- The total contribution of Travel & Tourism to South Africa’s GDP is estimated at ZAR 659.8 billion (8.9% of GDP), reflecting a 3.4% shortfall from 2019’s peak economic input.
Strategic Outlook: A Decade of Opportunity for South Africa’s Travel Sector
- WTTC forecasts that by 2035, the sector could support 2.6 million jobs, representing 13.8% of the national workforce, with an additional 620,000 jobs created.
- Economic contribution could grow to ZAR 911.7 billion, equating to a 10.3% share of GDP.
- Achieving this growth depends on prioritizing Travel & Tourism through enhanced public-private partnerships, infrastructure investment, and supportive policies under dynamic leadership.
Key Partnerships and Leadership Driving Progress
- WTTC is collaborating closely with South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, to embed Travel & Tourism into the G20 agenda for 2025.
- The upcoming Investment Summit in September 2025 will focus on catalyzing new capital inflows and partnerships to support sustainable tourism development.
2024 Economic Snapshot
- In 2024, Travel & Tourism contributed ZAR 618.7 billion to the economy, down 9.4% from 2019.
- International visitor spend totaled ZAR 116.5 billion, with domestic travel accounting for ZAR 430 billion.
Conclusion: Navigating Challenges, Embracing Growth Potential
South Africa’s Travel & Tourism sector stands at a pivotal juncture. With employment levels reaching historic highs and domestic spending exceeding pre-pandemic numbers, the foundation for a robust recovery is set. However, bridging the gap in GDP contribution and international visitor spending requires strategic focus, innovation, and collaborative leadership.
As South Africa leads the global conversation through the G20 Presidency, the opportunity to place Travel & Tourism front and center offers promising pathways to unlock sustainable growth, job creation, and economic diversification for years to come.
