Brazil leads the way in terms of growth rates among tourists from long-haul destinations
-
![]()
Photo source: fokkebok / iStock
The Republic of South Africa welcomed more than 4.2 million foreign tourists between January and May 2026, which is 12.8 per cent more than during the same period last year. This was reported on the South African government’s website.
Arrivals from Brazil rose by 40.6 per cent. The number of visitors from Africa increased by 14.7 per cent. The country’s Ministry of Tourism attributes this growth to infrastructure development and the expansion of direct international flights.
"These results affirm that our decision to invest in tourism infrastructure, improve ease of access and diversify our tourism offerings across the country is paying off. South Africa's greatest competitive advantage lies in the combination of our people, our natural beauty, our rich heritage and our world-class infrastructure," said South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille.
Tourist arrivals from South America are showing exponential growth, primarily driven by travellers from Brazil: their numbers have risen from 4,700 to 6,600. This growth will be supported by the launch of a new direct flight route between Sao Paulo and Cape Town, which began operating on 2 July this year with three flights a week.
Patricia de Lille noted that every new air link creates additional opportunities for tourism, trade and investment and that the expansion of the route network is in line with the government’s approved strategy to strengthen direct air links and tap into new markets.
-
![]()
Tourism15.08.26Vietnam accelerates smart tourism with AI and digital services -
![]()
Tourism13.08.26Egypt welcomes Russia's decision to launch direct flights to Borg El Arab and El Alamein -
![]()
Tourism12.08.26Ghana records growth in tourism as international arrivals exceed 1.3 million -
![]()
Tourism06.08.26Vietnam embraces sustainable tourism as travellers prioritise local communities and greener travel -
![]()
Tourism05.08.26Malaysia leads international visitor arrivals to Indonesia in first half of 2026 -
![]()
Tourism03.08.26Brazil ranks fourth worldwide for growth in international tourism since 2019
-
![Dilma Rousseff]()
Dilma RousseffPresident of the New Development Bank"India’s BRICS Presidency this year gives special significance to our discussion. NDB stands ready to be a trusted partner in turning commitments on sustainability, clean energy, smart and resilient infrastructure into concrete results on the ground. […] For NDB, mobilising private capital is a strategic imperative. Created by the BRICS founding members, NDB is a bank of the Global South, for the Global South, mandated to mobilise resources for infrastructure and sustainable development" -
![Sihasak Phuangketkeow]()
Sihasak PhuangketkeowDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand"BRICS can play a very important role in maintaining the free flow of trade and investment. The group can also be a vehicle for all of us to engage and to look at economic opportunities"
