Beitbridge Border Post in South Africa saw a dramatic surge in traveler numbers during the recent 2024 festive season, indicating a strong recovery in cross-border travel.
Beitbridge Border Post witnessed a significant surge in traveller numbers during the recent 2024 festive season, handling a total of 645,590 individuals. This increase reflects a broader trend observed across all South African ports of entry, with Beitbridge and OR Tambo International Airport experiencing the highest volumes of traffic. Beitbridge, South Africa's busiest inland border crossing, typically sees an average of 15,000 daily crossings during non-peak periods.
However, during the festive season, this number nearly tripled, as travellers from Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, Angola, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo crossed the border to celebrate the holidays. According to the South African Border Management Authority (BMA), a total of 5,084,251 travellers passed through South Africa's 71 ports of entry over the festive season, marking a 51,680 increase compared to the 2023/2024 period. While this represents a notable rise, it remains below pre-pandemic levels, which saw approximately six million travellers during the same period. OR Tambo International Airport recorded the highest traveller count at 1,065,636, followed closely by Beitbridge with 645,590 and the Lebombo border crossing to Mozambique with 571,131.The BMA also processed a substantial number of vehicles, including 395,189 private cars, 12,974 minibus taxis, and 6,071 buses. In addition, 58,938 trucks were processed, with 47,891 used for exports and 11,047 for imports. Beitbridge handled the highest number of import trucks at 5,521. The increased traffic at key border posts, such as Beitbridge, highlights the critical need for efficient movement control systems to facilitate seamless cross-border travel during peak periods.
TRAFFIC FESTIVE SEASON BEITBRIDGE BORDER SOUTH AFRICA TRAVEL CROSS-BORDER MOVEMENT
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