Because the Easter holidays method, insights from a Cape City Tourism (CTT) journey survey for April 2026 present that whereas world uncertainty impacts sentiment, South Africans are nonetheless travelling, with a transparent desire for home journeys and value-focused decisions.
Over half of respondents (54%) plan to journey this April, with 94% selecting home journey.
Solely 6% are going overseas.
Price stays the principle issue influencing journey decisions. Greater than half of respondents (51%) cite private monetary strain as a key constraint, whereas 49% point out rising dwelling prices and 45% cite gas prices.
This strain has now intensified, with South Africa’s April 2026 gas worth adjustment including R3.06 per litre to petrol and greater than R7 per litre to diesel, regardless of non permanent levy aid introduced by the federal government.
“Even underneath strain, the will to journey hasn’t gone away,” says Enver Duminy, CEO of Cape City Tourism. “What’s modified is how individuals outline worth. It’s not nearly value, however about experiences that really feel significant, restorative, and simple to entry. That’s the place the business wants to reply, by making journey extra attainable, versatile, and related to how South Africans are selecting to discover proper now.”
Journey behaviour displays this shift. Journeys are shorter, with 51% of travellers staying for 3 to 4 nights, whereas 57% reserving inside a couple of weeks of departure. Street journey stays the preferred choice, with 77% selecting to drive. Self-catering and staying with associates or household additionally stay common, inexpensive decisions.
Spending can also be underneath strain. Almost half of travellers (48%) count on to spend lower than in earlier years, reducing again primarily on consuming out (36%), common bills (24%), and transport (23%).
Regardless of these pressures, the will to journey stays sturdy, pushed primarily by relaxation, reconnection and high quality time. Rest, psychological well-being, and household time are the principle motivations, with most journeys taken with companions and kids.
Cape City stays the preferred home vacation spot, reinforcing the attraction of native journey that gives selection, comfort, and robust worth.
“As extra South Africans select home journey, the town is well-placed to satisfy that demand,” says the Metropolis of Cape City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Financial Development and Tourism, Alderman James Vos. “Guests can take pleasure in a variety of experiences, from seashores and nature to tradition and delicacies, with out travelling far, making it simpler to maximise each time and finances.”
Whereas 49% of respondents say world battle has decreased their need to journey, solely 10% cite geopolitical issues as a direct issue of their April plans, effectively under the affect of monetary strain.
“Proper now, travellers should not merely asking the place to go. They’re asking what’s value it,” says Duminy. “The companies that make journey simpler, extra versatile, and genuinely good worth would be the ones individuals select first.”
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