South African Tourism has set an ambitious target of attracting 100,000 Indian visitors in 2026, as part of its continued focus on strengthening engagement with the Indian travel trade.
The announcement was made during the grand finale of the 22nd edition of the South African Tourism four-city roadshow, held at ITC Maurya. The multi-city initiative covered Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and New Delhi, and followed the tourism board’s participation at Outbound Travel Mart in Mumbai. The roadshow forms part of South African Tourism’s broader trade outreach programme in India.
Briefing the media, Mitalee Karmarkar, Marketing and Communications Manager (MEISEA), South African Tourism, said the Delhi leg of the roadshow featured 42 exhibitors showcasing offerings across leisure, corporate and MICE segments. As Delhi is the second-largest source market for South Africa from India, the board expected 300–350 local trade partners to engage with exhibitors at the event.
In 2025, South Africa welcomed 69,680 Indian visitors, still below pre-pandemic levels of 100,000. For 2026, the tourism board is targeting a return to the 100,000 mark, supported by the introduction of the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, which has streamlined the visa process and reduced processing time to 48 hours. The ETA is free for Indian nationals and carries no additional processing charges.
Direct flight connectivity between India and South Africa is also under consideration, which is expected to further boost arrivals. India currently ranks as the seventh-largest international source market for South Africa.
Karmarkar noted that MICE and business travel account for 45.6 per cent of total arrivals from India, with leisure comprising the remainder. From the Delhi market, visitor segments include 27 per cent VFR, 23.5 per cent MICE, 22 per cent business and 19 per cent leisure. Consumer preferences vary by region, with 68 per cent of visitors from Delhi engaging in shopping activities, while 50 per cent of travellers from Kolkata prefer cultural experiences. Mumbai continues to remain the top source market from India
