The 2023 Easter weekend was significant for the South African tourism industry, with FNB reporting a 27% increase in turnover and a 15% increase in transaction volumes year on year on its merchant services platform.
According to the bank, this indicates a strong rebound in domestic tourism activity, building on the momentum gained in 2022 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic’s negative financial impact.
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According to IOL, Thokozani Dlamini, FNB Merchant Services CEO, says local demand for travel over the Easter weekend continued to surge, with lodging accounting for 229% of tourism spend within our base, followed by airlines, car rentals, and travel agents at 82%, 19%, and 58%, respectively, with the overall contribution to tourism turnover increasing compared to the same period last year.
The airline industry reportedly experienced a more than 100% increase in growth from 2021 to 2022.
‘Given that the Easter Weekend is dominated by domestic tourism, it is no surprise that accommodation and lodging, which largely feature overnight and a few day stays, performed well,’ Dlamini told IOL.
Dlamini adds, ‘Moreover, as many consumers continue to navigate through the tough economic environment, they are likely to opt for more budget-friendly getaway experiences.’
Another significant milestone was a 507% increase in bus use over the Easter weekend, which Dlamini explained is good news for the long-distance bus industry, which is still recovering from the severe financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘Again, this remains a cost-effective way of travelling around the country for some consumers, compared to the cost of buying an air ticket,’ said Dlamini.
In comparison to last year, overall travel increased by 27% for the Easter weekend.
“The rebound in domestic tourism activity is important for many small businesses, which were hardest hit as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dlamini told IOL. “The hospitality and travel sectors, together with popular tourism-linked businesses, continue to benefit from increased growth that already matches pre-Covid levels in some areas.”
Over the Easter Weekend, tourism spending is said to have increased by 127% across all nine provinces, with the Eastern Cape contributing 136%, the Free State 114%, Gauteng 128%, Limpopo 137%, Mpumalanga 117%, the North-West 110%, and the Western Cape 139%, with KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape coming in just short of 100%.
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