WTTC Insights 2025: South Africa Tourism Projects Record 1.9 Million Jobs, GDP Still Lags
Employment in South Africa's Travel and Tourism sector is set to hit a record high, though key challenges continue to remain.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reports mixed projections for South Africa’s Travel & Tourism sector in 2025.
While new data highlights robust job growth (forecast to support 1.9 million jobs), other key indicators suggest the sector is still regaining its pre-pandemic strength (GDP contribution lags 3.4% behind its 2019 peak).
WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Research (EIR) for 2025 Highlights
- Jobs: Projected to support an all-time high of 1.9 million jobs, surpassing 2019 levels (11.3% of all jobs in South Africa).
- Domestic Visitor Spending: Forecast at ZAR 445 billion, marking a 3.8% increase above 2019 figures.
- Total Economic Contribution (GDP): Projected at ZAR 659.8BN (8.9% of national GDP), still 3.4% below its 2019 peak.
- International Visitor Spending: Expected to reach ZAR 128.4BN, remaining ZAR 37.7BN below 2019 levels.
WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson notes that “South Africa’s Travel & Tourism sector is slowly turning the corner,” emphasising that “jobs are leading the recovery, with employment expected to reach new highs…“
Simpson added that as South Africa takes on the G20 Presidency in 2025, it presents a “unique opportunity to place Travel & Tourism at the heart of its agenda.”
A Decade of Opportunity (Projections to 2035)
Looking ahead, WTTC forecasts significant momentum and growth, with the right national priorities:
- Job Growth: An additional 620,000 new jobs, reaching a total of 2.6 million (13.8% of the country’s workforce).
- Economic Contribution: Potential growth to ZAR 911.7BN, representing a 10.3% share of GDP.
