The DTS is aimed at addressing this need to collect more detailed information on domestic tourism in order to better understand and measure the contribution of the tourism industry towards the national economy. This will be done by collecting accurate statistics on the travel behaviour and expenditure of South African residents travelling within and outside the borders of South Africa. Such information is crucial in determining the contribution of tourism to the South African economy as well as helping with planning, marketing, policy formulation and regulation of tourism-related activities.
In addition to the basic demographic information collected in the majority of household surveys conducted
by Stats SA, the DTS covers seven areas specifically related to travel and expenditure patterns, namely: overview of trips taken by the household, domestic day trips by the respondent and/or other household members, domestic day trips by other household members only (without the respondent), domestic overnight trips by the respondent and/or other household members, domestic overnight trips by other household members only (without the respondent), foreign overnight trips by the respondent and/or other household members, and foreign overnight trips by other household members only (without the respondent)
