Our latest poll shows Cape Town is expected to be the most popular domestic tourism destination this high season – beating Durban and the Kruger National Park by far.
Three quarters (75%) of respondents selected Cape Town as the destination that will stand out from a domestic tourism perspective. Durban was selected by 17% of respondents and the Kruger National Park by 8%.
In October, Statistics South Africa’s domestic tourism survey revealed that the Western Cape (with Cape Town as its capital city) was South Africa’s most popular province for overnight domestic travel in 2023. The province accounted for 15.9% of all overnight trips last year, followed closely by Limpopo (home to a portion of the Kruger National Park and numerous surrounding reserves) at 15.6% and KwaZulu-Natal (with Durban at its heart) at 15.2%.
What are your thoughts on the SAA pilots’ strike?
After a promising period of stabilisation and network expansion, South African Airways (SAA) attracted international attention last week due to a two-day pilot strike.
On Saturday (December 7), the airline confirmed that operations had returned to normal following successful negotiations with the SAA Pilots Association. The strike began on Thursday (December 5) with pilots demanding a 30% annual salary increase. SAA’s executive management proposed a total annual increase of 9.47%.
Responding to news of the strike last week, several Tourism Update readers voiced frustration with the carrier, which has been plagued by financial mismanagement and a heavy debt burden over the past two decades.
“Just another reason why not to support this lot. Years ago, almost every South African was proud to support SAA,” one reader commented.
Another reader sided with the airline, arguing that the demand for a 30% increase was unreasonable. “Wow, a 30% pay increase! That's quite bold! The employer and the union representing SAA pilots should come together to negotiate a fair settlement. It's important to find a compromise that works for both sides. SAA pilots should remember that they aren't irreplaceable. On the flip side, other airlines should be aware that loyalty can be fleeting when it comes to salary matters as their pilots can be easily lured away.”
We would love to hear your thoughts on the matter! Our poll question this week is:
