South Africa is not just hosting a major diplomatic event - the 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit is acting as a powerful catalyst for both tourism and property investment. As Johannesburg welcomes thousands of international delegates, business leaders, and media teams, the global spotlight is once again shining on South Africa’s cities and their real estate potential.
READ: Why South Africans are choosing lifestyle towns over big cities
Tourism boosts confidence and jobs
According to Berry Everitt, CEO of Chas Everitt International, the G20 Summit “represents something just as important for South Africa: a powerful showcase of the country’s attractions and the extremely positive effects that international tourism can have on the property market.” He explains that with every global visitor, investor, or executive who experiences SA’s world-class facilities, confidence in the country’s cities grows - and that translates into real estate momentum.
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“Tourism and real estate have always been closely linked,” Everitt says. “When global attention turns to any destination, visitor numbers rise, confidence grows and investment tends to follow … that spotlight is shining brightly once again.”
He points out that hotel occupancy in Johannesburg is surging, bookings are up, and, given tourism’s current contribution of roughly 8.8% to GDP, the ripple effects of this Summit could drive new jobs and strengthen SA’s reputation as both a business and lifestyle destination.
Property markets gaining from global exposure
This optimism dovetails with insights from Property24’s Where to Invest: Top local property markets in 2025. According to Yael Geffen, CEO of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty, “now is an excellent time to enter the rental market,” citing a recent TPN Vacancy Survey that showed an average residential vacancy rate of just 5.4%, the lowest since 2016.
Geffen highlights several top-performing property markets:
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Cape Town: In a city already boosted by tourism, luxury apartments and short-term rentals remain especially attractive due to strong demand from both tourists and corporate travellers.
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Johannesburg: The economic heart of the country offers high demand for middle-income housing. Suburbs like Sandton, Rosebank, and Midrand are highlighted, while affordable options in Randburg and Roodepoort are drawing growing investor interest.
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Midrand: Strategically located between Joburg and Pretoria, this fast-growing hub is especially appealing for sectional title investments and office‑retail developments.
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Durban’s North Coast: Areas like Umhlanga and Ballito are becoming semigration favourites, with holiday rental demand and beachfront investment opportunities rising.
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Garden Route & Eastern Cape: Lifestyle-driven buyers are showing increased interest in scenic, coastal towns such as Knysna, George, and Gqeberha, driving long-term investment potential.
Tourism and real estate: A powerful symbiosis
The G20 Summit is doing more than just boosting short-term tourist numbers - it’s strengthening South Africa’s international profile. Everitt believes that every extended stay, every full hotel, and every return trip builds “confidence, visibility and belief in the future of a place.” Those three factors are exactly what real estate markets thrive on.
READ: Top Gauteng suburbs offering growth and rental yields
Geffen’s data supports this: with low vacancies, rising demand, and renewed investor sentiment, the time is ripe to capitalise on both the tourism wave and property fundamentals.
Bottom line for investors:
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The current G20-fuelled tourism upswing is likely to translate into medium- and long-term property demand.
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Key markets like Cape Town, Midrand, and coastal towns offer a mix of stability, rental yield, and lifestyle appeal.
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Strategy matters: investors who align with these trends — focusing on location, tourism-linked demand, and rental fundamentals - could be best positioned for growth.
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