Diverging Fortunes: Cape Town Soars as Johannesburg Tourist Arrivals Lag

Data from Codera Analytics reveals a sharp divergence in tourist arrival trends between South Africa’s two main international gateways, contrasting Johannesburg’s post-pandemic slump with Cape Town’s rapid expansion. 

Between 2015 and 2025, German tourist arrivals at OR Tambo International Airport dropped by 29.41%, reflecting a broader decline in traditional commercial entry-point volumes. In contrast, Cape Town International Airport recorded a 95.95% surge over the same decade, driven by expanded direct seasonal flights and growing international demand for Western Cape leisure travel.  

While both airports follow strong seasonal patterns, the data underscores a clear shift toward Cape Town as the primary hub for direct European arrivals. 

Cape Chamber President Jacques Moolman said arrival data suggests Cape Town's tourism trend is positive: “Growth of tourism is a key contributor to job creation and we constantly need to find ways to increase destination competitiveness to accelerate such growth.”