Cape Town Tourism recently hosted their annual general meeting, giving insight into the increase in tourism arrivals between July 2016 and June 2017.
The organisation said that Cape Town International Airport has surpassed 5 million arrivals, with arrivals on international flights growing 25% year-on-year. Adding that when it came to attractions, Cape Point led the way at a 20% rise year-on-year (1 173 236 visitors). Table Mountain Aerial Cableway came in second with 1 167 598 visitors and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden pulled in third with 980 168 visitors.
Russel Brueton, Chief Communications Officer at Wesgro, shares why these attractions have seen continued growth, “Cape Point is a firm favourite in the Chinese Consumer segment which can partially account for the growth in numbers. While attractions such as Table Mountain have introduced new methods of purchasing tickets, and different rates for different times. This has allowed them to accommodate a broader audience and improve their capacity.”
Brueton adds, “Based on the increase of international visitors, it is evident that the top attractions as mentioned above are the ‘must do activities’ that traditionally form part of the first time attendees itinerary. Tour operators and DMC’s always include ‘Cape Town’s Big 7’ as part of their packaged tours and experiences for their clients”
He suggests that Cape Town’s ongoing tourism boom, coupled with experiential travel trends, creates the ideal market in which to encourage diversity. “With Cape Town’s tourism arrivals forecast for continued growth, the low hanging fruit lies in the potential for tourists to spread out across the region.”
Potential attractions include:
- West Coast Fossil Park in the Cape West Coast
- Karoo National Park
- Cango Caves in Oudtshoorn
- Point of Human Origin in Mosselbay
- Wineroutes across the Western Cape : Route 62, Cape Overberg, Garden Route & Klein Karoo
- Hiking and cycling routes
- Camping facilities
