Tourism in the Western Cape due to rise this summer season
21 Dec 2011
Based on early calculations, I am optimistic that the province's tourism industry will experience a good summer season. Arrivals at the Western Cape's major airports and visitor numbers at attractions across the province in November 2011 were higher than in November 2010.
In November 2011, the Cape Town International Airport registered a 14% increase in international arrivals, an 11.7% increase in regional arrivals and a 3.6% increase in domestic arrivals compared to November 2010.
Of our major attractions, the V&A Waterfront registered 1 828 600 visitors this November, a year-on-year increase of 7.2%. Visitor numbers to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens also increased by over 7%, from 58 076 in November 2010 to 62 194 in November 2011.
Visitor numbers to attractions in other parts of the Western Cape increased more dramatically, suggesting that tourists are heading off the beaten track to experience locations further afield. This is positive news for our smaller towns that rely on the contribution of tourism to boost their economy and create jobs.