Zimbabweans Flock to South Africa in Record Numbers: Over Half A Million Enter Legally
In the first quarter of 2024, South Africa welcomed more than 613,000 Zimbabwean tourists, marking them as the largest group of visitors from Africa to the continent’s largest economy, according to data from South Africa’s tourism ministry.
During this period, a total of 1.8 million African tourists visited South Africa, with Zimbabweans accounting for a significant portion, representing a 21.8% increase compared to 2023.
Notably, arrivals from Ghana to South Africa surged by 249%, reaching 7,904 visitors.
The tourism ministry reported,
“South Africa welcomed 1.8 million tourist arrivals from the rest of the African continent between January and March 2024, marking a significant 74.5% of all arrivals. Zimbabwe and Ghana stood out for their remarkable growth, with Zimbabwe experiencing a 21.8% increase in tourist arrivals to South Africa when compared to the first three months of 2023, totalling…