THE tourism and migration statistics for May 2004 have been released, showing a 0,6% increase of total number of foreign visitors arriving through all ports of entry, compared to the same month in 2003. There was a 3,2% increase in the total in the number of overseas arrivals compared to May 2003, with 118 471 overseas travellers visiting SA in May 2004. The stats show that air arrivals accounted for 85,5% of all overseas arrivals. The United Kingdom was the leading country of origin of overseas arrivals, with 23 001 (19,4%) visiting SA. This was followed by travellers from the USA with 17 959 visitors (15,2%) and Germany with 13 635 visitors (11,5%). There was a drop in UK visitors to SA though, as 23 001 visitors came to SA in May 2004, compared to 24 801 in May 2003. This compares to the sharp increase in visitors from China. In May 2003, 850 visitors from China came to SA, compared to the 3 396 in May 2004. The total number of travellers who arrived in SA from mainland Africa during May 2004 shows a decrease of 1,1% compare to the same month in the previous year. The leading source of visitors from mainland Africa was Lesotho (31,2%), Swaziland (19,1%) and Botswana (16,7%). (Lucy Siebert)