For over 25 years, WTTC, which represents the global private sector of travel and tourism, has compared the travel and tourism sector across 185 countries. The 2018 research shows that the South Africa Travel & Tourism sector:
• Contributed ZAR425.8 billion to the country’s economy, the largest of any country in Africa. This represents 8,6 percent of all economic activity in South Africa
• Generated 1,5 million jobs, or 9,2 percent of total employment
• Was primarily driven by leisure travelers: 64 percent of the travel economy was generated by leisure visitors and 36 percent from business travellers
• Is roughly balanced between international and domestic travel: 44 percent of the tourism spend came from international travelers and 56 percent from domestic travel
