SA Ranks Highest in Africa on 2024 Travel and Tourism Development Index

“The tourism sector has achieved robust growth over the past year due to closer partnerships and collaborations with the private sector to grow tourism to its full potential,” de Lille noted.

South Africa has emerged as the top-ranked African nation on the 2024 Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) by the World Economic Forum, marking a significant achievement for the country's tourism sector.

“We are extremely pleased with this ranking as it affirms our commitment and work to elevate the significance and contribution of the tourism sector in South Africa,” stated Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille on Thursday.

Ranked 55th among 119 countries, South Africa leads the continent in the TTDI, which assesses factors and policies that enable sustainable and resilient development of the travel and tourism sector. This development is crucial for the economic growth of the country.

In 2023, South Africa welcomed nearly 8.5 million international visitors, with 6.4 million coming from the African continent, reflecting a 48.9% increase compared to 2022. The first quarter of 2024 saw 2.4 million international visitors, a 15.4% rise from the same period in the previous year.

“The tourism sector has achieved robust growth over the past year due to closer partnerships and collaborations with the private sector to grow tourism to its full potential,” de Lille noted.

In the 2024 Index, South Africa advanced seven places from its previous ranking, scoring high in price competitiveness, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) readiness, natural resources, and the socio-economic impact of travel and tourism.

“We are delighted by the growth and our mission remains to exponentially grow arrival numbers and the overall performance of the tourism sector,” de Lille added. She emphasized the sector's significant contribution to South Africa’s GDP and job creation efforts, while acknowledging the ongoing collaboration with private sector stakeholders.

"The South Africa tourism sector’s greatest asset is our people, and we will continue working to grow tourism’s contribution to the prosperity of people and the planet,” the Minister concluded.