South Africa Hosts BRICS Meeting, Targets Recovery of Pre-Pandemic Tourism Levels
Key Points
- South Africa hosted a BRICS Tourism Ministers Meeting to discuss post-pandemic tourism recovery.
- International visitors to South Africa increased by 70.6% from January to August 2023 but remain 19% below 2019 levels.
- The Skift Travel Health Index indicates varied recovery rates among BRICS countries, with challenges in China and Russia.
Summary
South Africa hosted a BRICS Tourism Ministers Meeting to address tourism recovery post-pandemic, focusing on direct flights among member nations. From January to August 2023, South Africa saw a 70.6% increase in international visitors, although still 19% below 2019 levels. The Skift Travel Health Index highlights different recovery rates among BRICS countries, with China facing a slower recovery and Russia impacted by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
South African Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille hosted a BRICS Tourism Ministers Meeting on Tuesday focusing on tourism recovery between the bloc of nations.
Tourism growth related to direct flights among Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa was discussed as a follow-up to the BRICS Summit the country hosted in August.
From January to August, the latest international visitor figures for South Africa rose to 5.5 million international tourists, a 70.6% increase compared to the same period in 2022. However, these figures are still 19% below pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
The Skift Travel Health Index, which assesses performance in key sectors such as aviation and hotels, shows that while India and Brazil's travel recovery has seen steady gains in 2023, China's full recovery hasn't been as clearcut as most of the global markets had expected. Russia's war with Ukraine has significantly affected its tourism recovery, with the country continuing to see sanctions imposed against it.
Up Next
How Travel Brands Can Seize the ‘Q5’ Opportunity on TikTok
China’s Outbound Travel Is Having a Comeback and First-Timers Are Driving it
'We’re off Track:' Prince Harry Calls for Travel Industry to Cut Emissions in Half by 2030
U.S. Travel Spending Shows Signs of Cooling: Bank of America Card Data
