David Frost | CEO | Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) | mail me |
Recent headlines sparked by a widely publicised exchange between U.S. President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa have reignited international focus on crime in South Africa.
Unfortunately, much of the coverage has leaned toward sensationalism, lacking the nuance needed to understand the real experience of travellers to the country.
We are stepping forward to clarify the facts – grounded in decades of experience welcoming international guests.
South Africa isn’t perfect
Like every country, we face challenges. But what we don’t have is a crisis that justifies global panic or distorted narratives. What we do have is millions of tourists arriving safely every year, and leaving with stories that have nothing to do with fear and everything to do with awe.
While crime is a concern and continues to be addressed by government and civil society, incidents involving international visitors remain extremely rare.
Among the facts:
- Visitor satisfaction levels remain high across key source markets.
- Travel demand from North America remains strong. US arrivals totalled 372,362 in 2024, recovering to 100% of 2019 levels.
- Major tourism destinations continue operating smoothly thanks to coordinated public-private safety initiatives.
We don’t pretend crime doesn’t exist. But context matters. The suggestion that tourists are at significant risk is dangerous misinformation that serves political agendas rather than public interest.
We work closely with industry stakeholders on proactive visitor safety efforts, including the national Tourism Safety Helpline, enhanced security visibility around tourist hotspots and real-time incident response coordination.
Most popular tourism areas are well-policed specifically with visitors in mind, and travellers can access emergency assistance 24/7 through dedicated helplines and innovative tools like the Secura Traveller App, a mobile solution offering location-based support throughout a visitor’s journey.
We play a key role in driving safety initiatives across the industry, developing comprehensive toolkits, training programs, and traveller support services that ensure visitors are both informed and protected throughout their stay.
South Africa is open and welcoming
Understanding South Africa requires nuance, not cherry-picked sound bites that distort the full picture of a nation still working through its complex history while building toward a shared future.
We urge both international media outlets and officials abroad to engage responsibly when discussing complex issues like land reform or national crime rates, especially when those discussions affect perception-based industries like tourism directly tied to livelihoods across Southern Africa.
This sector employs hundreds of thousands. It puts food on tables from Soweto guesthouses right through to safari camps in Limpopo. And in South Africa, one tourism job typically supports up to seven people — meaning a single traveller’s decision has a ripple effect across entire households.
If you want honest answers about what travel here looks like today, ask someone who’s actually been — or better yet, come and see for yourself.
We remain committed to ensuring accurate information reaches potential visitors, and to working with all stakeholders to maintain South Africa’s position as one of the world’s most compelling destinations.
