The Western Cape and Cape Town have witnessed remarkable visitor numbers recently, exceeding 400,000 visitors in the past December alone. Notable attractions such as Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, Cape of Good Hope, and the Boulders at Table Mountain National Park have reported significant increases in foot traffic. The same holds true for Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and Robben Island.
Our regional attractions, including Harold Porter National Botanical Garden, Cape Agulhas Lighthouse, Arniston Hotel & Spa, !Khwa ttu, Shipwreck Museum, and Panthera Africa, have also experienced a surge in visitation, collectively accommodating nearly 20,000 visitors.
In terms of transportation, Cape Town International Airport has seen a 17% year-on-year growth in December, with the international terminal documenting a 48% increase over the course of 2023, amounting to 2.8 million international passengers. The domestic terminal reported a 21% year-on-year growth in December, totaling just under 6.9 million passengers for the year.
This upward trend in tourism has been acknowledged by Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger, who highlighted the significant contribution of tourism to the provincial economy and job market.
Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, has expressed similar sentiments, emphasizing the importance of leveraging this momentum to further bolster the economy in 2024. The expectation is to maintain this positive trajectory in the upcoming tourism seasons and school-term holidays, aiming to create additional job opportunities and enhance visitor experiences.