After the devastating effects of the COVID lock downs on businesses and the tourism industry just four years ago, tourism in the Western Cape is poised for the best tourist season on record this summer.
Arrivals at Cape Town International Airport have set the trend for this unprecedented rise in visitors to our fair shores, by breaking records set in the last five years. During January and February of 2024 more than 300 000 tourists passed through our doors indicating that visitors are keen to make Cape Town their holiday destination this Christmas and into summer 2025.
Visitors to the western Cape’s most iconic attractions, including Table Mountain, Cape Point Nature Reserve and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, have surged by 20% year-on-year, promising economic growth and, more importantly, job creation.
Between January and March 2024, most of the visitors were from Britain, with Germany a very close second, followed by the USA, Netherlands and France, indicating a strong recovery from South Africa’s top 10 markets.
More good news for the tourist industry is that overseas air arrivals to Cape Town reflect full recovery from seven out of our top 10 source markets. These markets included the UK, Germany, USA, Netherlands, Canada, Belgium and Ireland.
It’s good news as well for holiday home owners, whose homes remain empty for a good part of the year. Now is an excellent time to opt for placing your home on the holiday rental market and turning your asset into an earner.
