South Africa Domestic Tourism Shifts to Inland Provinces

Coastal provinces like the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal see declines in domestic overnight stays as internal travel patterns shift.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Africa

Screen-print poster illustration of a lone acacia tree in a vast, dry, inland landscape, representing South Africa's tourism shift. — Domestic tourism in South Africa shifted inland in 2025 as travelers increasingly bypassed expensive coastal hotspots like the Western Cape for interior provinces. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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In 2025, domestic overnight tourism experienced a notable shift away from major coastal destinations in South Africa. Provinces such as the North West, Northern Cape, and Free State reported gains in visitors as domestic travellers sought alternatives to traditional coastal hotspots.

Why it matters

The decline in coastal tourism suggests that domestic travellers increasingly view destinations like the Western Cape as too expensive. Consequently, the tourism industry in these regions is pivoting its focus towards international visitors to compensate for the reduction in local overnight stays.

Western Cape domestic overnight stays totalled 2,368,000 in 2025, representing a market share of 14.1% compared to 15.9% in 2023. Meanwhile, North West province experienced a 36.2% increase in overnight stays, while Limpopo captured 16.8% of the total domestic market.

The details

While coastal provinces faced difficulties, Limpopo emerged as a primary destination with 2,824,000 recorded overnight stays in 2025. The Western Cape also saw a reduction of 1 million day trips, prompting the local industry to rely more heavily on international tourism, which grew by 38.3% over the past seven years.

2023: Western Cape held a 15.9% share of domestic overnight stays.
2024: Western Cape recorded 2,482,000 domestic overnight stays.
2025: Domestic overnight stays in coastal provinces declined by 6.4%.

Travel Outlook

This shift in tourism volume mirrors the post-2023 domestic tourism demand elasticity for South African coastal travel. The data suggests that rising costs in traditional hubs are fundamentally altering the seasonal and geographical preferences of domestic travellers across the country.

Domestic travellers planning trips to the Western Cape or KwaZulu-Natal may find that international tourism growth keeps prices high, potentially justifying a move to inland provinces. Those seeking more budget-friendly holidays should monitor occupancy trends in provinces like Limpopo and the North West.

The takeaway

The changing preference for inland travel highlights a growing sensitivity to destination pricing among local tourists. Travellers can often find greater value by exploring provinces that are currently seeing investment and increased visitor infrastructure development.