“South Africa’s Travel Opportunity”

By The Quest Correspondents

Muizenberg’s colourful beach huts capture South Africa’s coastal charm — and with Middle Eastern routes disrupted by war, the country stands poised to benefit from redirected global tourism

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s tourism sector is riding a wave of opportunity in the midst of global turbulence.

The war in the Middle East has disrupted the once‑reliable Dubai–Doha aviation corridor, forcing millions of travellers to reconsider their routes. Some of that traffic is now flowing through Johannesburg and Cape Town, giving South Africa a rare chance to position itself as a safe and attractive alternative.

But the disruption cuts both ways. Johannesburg and Cape Town — the country’s corporate gateways — have been affected by the non‑arrival of business travellers, as Middle East‑based airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad have been forced to ground planes or reroute flights due to safety concerns.

This has reduced the flow of executives and conference delegates who typically connect through Gulf hubs, dampening the lucrative business travel segment even as leisure arrivals rise.

Brett Tungay, National Chairperson of the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (FEDHASA), told The Quest that the conflict presents a unique opening for South Africa:

“It is a helluva opportunity as tourists cannot get through the Middle East to get to their destination. I don’t know whether Tourism SA knows that they should take advantage of this opportunity. We are at the tip of the African continent, a safe and peaceful destination, and I am sure there are many tourists and tourism companies looking for such destinations. So far, though, we have never seen any increase in tourist volumes coming our way due to the trouble in the Middle East, particularly at Dubai and Doha airports.”

A Fragile Recovery Gains Momentum

The industry had already begun clawing back from the devastation of Covid‑19, the scars of the July 2021 riots, and persistent concerns about crime. In 2019, South Africa welcomed 10.2 million visitors; by 2020, that figure plunged to just 2.8 million. By 2024, arrivals had climbed back to 8.92 million, and in the first eight months of 2025, 6.79 million international visitors were recorded — a 15.8% jump compared to the same period in 2024, edging close to pre‑pandemic levels.

Tourism’s contribution to GDP has risen from 1.7% in 2020 to 3.3% by mid‑2025. Provinces such as Gauteng and the Western Cape have reported strong gains, with Kruger National Park leading Africa’s wildlife revival. Across the continent, Africa recorded the fastest tourism growth globally in 2025, with arrivals up 12%, led by Morocco (+19%) and South Africa.

Government Optimism

Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille celebrated the rebound:

“We are not recovering anymore, we are growing now. For the first time, we have exceeded the 2019 arrivals. I don’t want to hear about Covid anymore — South Africa is back on the global tourism map.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa echoed the sentiment, calling for peace in the Middle East while stressing South Africa’s potential as a sustainable aviation hub.

The Road Ahead

Whether redirected traffic through Johannesburg and Cape Town becomes a permanent gain remains uncertain. The opportunity is clear, but so are the challenges: crime perceptions, infrastructure demands, and the need for aggressive marketing. As Tungay told The Quest, the industry must act decisively to seize this “helluva opportunity.”

South African Tourism could not be reached for comment at the time of going to press.  TQ