Best news for South Africa’s property market in years

Johannesburg’s hosting of the 2025 G20 Summit is expected to give South Africa a major tourism-driven visibility boost, stimulating jobs, confidence, and significant investment in the country’s property market.

Thousands of delegates, support staff, business leaders, and media teams from around the world have arrived in Johannesburg for the 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit.

Beyond the political and economic discussions taking place at Nasrec and on the sidelines, Chas Everitt International Property Group CEO Berry Everitt said this gathering represents something just as important for South Africa.

According to Everitt, it is a powerful showcase of the country’s attractions and the extremely positive effects that international tourism can have on the property market.

“Tourism and real estate have always been closely linked. When global attention turns to any destination, visitor numbers rise, confidence grows, and investment tends to follow,” he said.

“South Africa has seen this repeatedly as it proved its ability to host major global events, from the 2010 Soccer World Cup and other major sporting events to the BRICS and AGOA summits in 2023.”

All of these events, Everitt said, boosted the country’s visibility and attracted visitors who often returned later as property investors, homebuyers, or repeat tourists.

“Now, with the G20 Summit drawing around 40 heads of state and thousands of delegates from the world’s biggest economies, that spotlight is shining brightly once again,” he said.

The economic impact will be far-reaching. As it is, hotel occupancy in Johannesburg and surrounding areas has surged, and bookings are up at restaurants, conference and event venues.”

Tourism already contributes around 8.8% of South Africa’s GDP, and direct employment in the sector is estimated at around 1.7 million people.

However, Everitt said the ripple effect of the G20 is expected to boost those numbers significantly over the next year.

This surge will come from direct spending, and as a result of strengthening South Africa’s position and reputation as an excellent destination for both business and leisure travel.

The economic impact of tourism

Stats SA figures show that from January to September 2025, South Africa welcomed more than 7.6 million international visitors, an increase of more than 1.1 million compared to the same period in 2024.

Notably, the Tourism Department has estimated that for every 12 arrivals, at least one direct and one indirect job is created.

“This translates into more than 160,000 additional livelihoods supported across hospitality, transport, food production, arts and crafts, and real estate,” Everitt said.

In the latest Property Signposts newsletter, Everitt explained the importance of tourism to South Africa’s economy.

He said every global visitor, investor or executive who experiences South Africa’s world-class facilities, hospitality and lifestyle potential contributes to building international confidence in the country’s cities and communities.

“Property markets in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and other major centres have already experienced the benefits of this type of exposure,” he said.

“Corporate accommodation demand increases during major events, stimulating both the short-term rental market and longer-term investment in mixed-use and hospitality-linked real estate.”

Everitt said the ripple effects of the G20 conference also extend beyond the cities to coastal and rural regions.

This is because delegates to international events and their families often stay on to explore the country’s broader tourism offerings.

These offerings are spread across all nine of South Africa’s provinces, from the Cape Winelands and Garden Route to the Drakensberg, the Lowveld and the Northern Cape.

Similar patterns are clearly visible in global data, he said. In 2023, the international meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions industry was worth over $523 billion.

“South Africa’s share of that, valued at $6.6 billion, is projected to quadruple by 2031. This growth will translate into more hotels, resorts, business parks, logistics hubs and residential developments built to cater to international demand,” he said.

Tourism boosts South Africa’s propert market

According to Everitt, tourism’s influence is not confined to South Africa’s high-end hotels or major city centres.

“Small businesses, township entrepreneurs and regional attractions all benefit from the flow of visitors, while the increased use of local accommodation, transport and food services brings money directly into communities,” he said.

“This inclusive economic growth reinforces property values and stimulates development in both urban and rural areas.”

In short, as more visitors discover South Africa’s value for money, beauty and investment potential, the country’s property sector stands to gain from a steady influx of both business and lifestyle buyers, Everitt said.

“Even more importantly, though, more tourism means more jobs, and that means thousands more South Africans who have a steady income and are thus able to rent or buy decent homes of their own,” he said.

“As we all know, the property market thrives on confidence, visibility and belief in the future of a place. Tourism builds all three.”

So as the world converges on Johannesburg, Everitt said the G20 Summit is not just a diplomatic milestone.

Instead, it serves as a reminder that every visitor, every full hotel, every extended stay, and every return trip is helping to write the next chapter in South Africa’s growth story and strengthening the foundations of the local real estate market.