This festive season saw a dip in overseas tourists to South Africa, following record numbers a year earlier, however the next few months should see thousands flocking to attend various sporting events.

Michael Tatalias, executive director of the SA Tourism Services Association (Satsa), said he expects a string of high profile international sporting events to bring thousands here from next month.

The Australian test cricket tour to South Africa is due to start next month, to be followed in May and June by the British Lions rugby tour, whilst in July the Confederations Cup soccer tournament, a precursor to the FIFA World Cup, takes place.

"Combined, these sporting fixtures were expected to bring even more people to South Africa than the soccer World Cup in 2010," Tatalias said.

These sporting events may also have contributed to the decline in UK tourism numbers, said Tatalias, noting that “a lot of people who would normally have come here over the holiday period must have decided they could afford only one trip to South Africa this year."

He added that he holds little hope that travel articles in the overseas press recommending South Africa as an affordable holiday destination would result in a significant number of visitors making last-minute bookings this year.