Photo Credit: LATAM Airlines

NNA News – Tourist arrivals from Brazil to South Africa climbed 40.6% in May, ahead of LATAM Airlines' launch of direct flights from Cape Town to São Paulo on Thursday. A statement released by South Africa's Ministry of Tourism on Wednesday showed that arrivals from Brazil rose in May. In May, South Africa welcomed 6,660 visitors from Brazil, up from 4,737 during the same month last year.

The ministry added that South America was also recording strong growth, with Brazil leading arrivals from the region. The increase comes as South Africa continues to strengthen its air links with Latin America. LATAM Airlines will begin operating its non-stop Cape Town–São Paulo service on Thursday, 2 July, with three flights a week.

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille said the new route would strengthen links between South Africa and Latin America while supporting the cabinet-approved Tourism Route Development Marketing Plan, which is designed to expand direct air connections and unlock new source markets. "Every new air route creates new opportunities for tourism, trade and investment," de Lille said. She added: "This latest expansion is another vote of confidence in South Africa's tourism market and aligns with the Cabinet-approved Tourism Route Development Marketing Plan, which is focused on strengthening direct connectivity and unlocking new source markets."

Brazil's strong performance comes amid a broader recovery in South Africa's tourism sector. International tourist arrivals rose 12.8% to 4,220,586 during the January-to-May period compared with the same period in 2025. Arrivals from Africa increased by 14.7%, while those from Europe rose 11.1%.

Photo Credit: LATAM Airlines

The recovery continued in May, when South Africa welcomed 861,750 international visitors, up 7.2% from the same month last year. Overseas arrivals were up 12.1%, led by the United States with 41,846 visitors and the United Kingdom with 22,160.

De Lille said the latest figures reflect the impact of continued investment in tourism infrastructure and improved air connectivity, which she said are "helping to strengthen South Africa's appeal to international travellers". "These results affirm that our decision to invest in tourism infrastructure, improve ease of access and diversify our offerings across the country is paying off," she said.

She added that the warm and welcoming nature of South African people, together with the country's natural beauty, rich heritage, and world-class infrastructure, continues to distinguish South Africa as a destination for international travellers.

De Lille described those attributes as South Africa's greatest competitive advantage. "South Africa's greatest competitive advantage lies in the combination of our people, our natural beauty, our rich heritage and our world-class infrastructure. Together, they continue to position our country as a destination of choice."

LATAM Airlines is Latin America's largest airline group, formed through the merger of Chile's LAN Airlines and Brazil's TAM Airlines.