With flight capacity ramped up to 100% of 2019 levels, the cruise season back in full swing and an impressive line-up of international events, the City of Cape Town is set for a summer season rivalling that of pre-COVID times.
This week, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, James Vos, and CEO of Cape Town Tourism (CTT), Enver Duminy, outlined the healthy state of tourism in Cape Town and the various initiatives aimed at ensuring full readiness for the influx of tourists from around the world.
Arrival numbers
In November, domestic arrivals at Cape Town International Airport were at 74% of the same period in 2019 and international arrivals were 87%.
Vos said the City’s work to secure new air routes from the US, Belgium and Mozambique, along with the return of international airlines such as Virgin Atlantic, had now recovered passenger numbers for the high season to 100% of 2019 figures.
“Between now and March 2023, we have 1.68 million two-way seats available and will hit 191 international flights per week,” Vos said.
A total of 75 ship visits are booked for the city’s 2022/23 cruise season.
“With an estimated R100 million (€5.4m) in total passenger spend per port visit, this is a significant segment of the tourism market for Cape Town. Alongside this, work continued on the ground to help local businesses hone their products in preparation for the influx of travellers,” said Vos, adding that preliminary bookings for the 2023/24 cruise season indicated 120 ship visits.
Duminy said the positive outlook for the coming season had also been bolstered by strong appetite for Cape Town as a domestic destination.
“Revealed in CTT’s latest Domestic Travel Intent report, the most popular domestic holiday destination remains the Western Cape (31%) ahead of the festive season,” said Duminy.
Summer readiness
Vos said the City and its partners had put processes in place to secure all aspects of destination readiness, including safety, transport, and cleanliness.
“This includes more than 4 000 uniformed staff such as Metro Police, lifeguards, law enforcement, traffic officers and firefighters, who will ensure the wellbeing of those who enjoy the Mother City. In addition, the City has expanded its dedicated Tourism Safety Unit which will focus on specific areas such as Table Mountain and the CBD, while the Western Cape Government has also launched a separate tourism safety unit,” said Vos.
CTT’s TravelWise programme also aims to help ensure the safety of visitors to the city.
“We strive to maintain our city's reputation for world-class tourism, which requires prioritising the safety of our residents and local and foreign tourists during this holiday period. TravelWise Cape Town, on capetown.travel, has a collection of tools and resources to ensure visitors are safe when in Cape Town,” said Duminy.
Innovative marketing campaigns, such as the award-winning Find Your Freedom immersive online travel experience, have also helped to reposition the city as a holiday destination of choice for global tourism.
Action-packed events calendar
This high season will herald the return of events such as the Cape Town Sevens, free music concerts and markets, amongst others.
Vos added that 2023 events such as Formula E and the Netball World Cup, along with a number of landmark business gatherings, would further boost the city’s tourism industry.
“Cape Town also has many pocket-friendly experiences for more budget-conscious travellers. CTT has compiled a handy 50 things to do for under R50 list with tips and ideas.”
