Table Mountain Cableway has welcomed its 31 millionth visitor. The major milestone was celebrated yesterday. Gerda Pretorius from Bloemfontein was surprised with a special gift hamper when she and her husband Lood arrived at the cableway station in the morning. They were waiting their turn to board the cable car when Gerda was pulled from the queue and told that she was the 31 millionth visitor. The Pretorius couple were on a two-day visit to Cape Town.
Table Mountain Cableway welcomes 31 millionth visitor
“It has been such fun to be back in Cape Town for this quick visit, and a thrill to see the mountain and the Cableway. We haven’t been on the mountain in over 30 years and today was a very nice surprise. Thank you for making us feel very special as we celebrate my 69th birthday (on 24 January),” says Gerda Pretorius
Yesterday’s special visit comes at the tail-end of a busy 2023/2024 festive period at Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company, says managing director Wahida Parker.
“Welcoming our 31 millionth visitor (since the start of operations in 1929) is a thrilling opportunity. We are eternally grateful to every single person who visited our mountain and made use of the cableway over these nine-plus decades.
READ MORE: The evolution of the cable car
“As one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature we are blessed to have a steady flow of visitors throughout the year, but the summer school holiday is our busiest by far. During this December, our operations came to a halt on a number of days due to strong winds. But despite this, visitors still flocked to the mountain to enjoy and experience everything that the mountain has to offer.”
A thrilling opportunity
Parker says according to the first reports she received, TMACC welcomed around 100 000 visitors over the course of December. This reflects the number of cable car tickets that were bought but excludes hikers who made their own way to the summit and down again.
“A visit to Table Mountain helps us to conserve the environment in which we operate. We pump a percentage of ticket sales back into conservation efforts, while a part of the money raised from our retail outlets is used for the same purpose. Thank you for visiting and helping us protect our mountain’s rich flora and fauna.”
Over the past few months, Cape Town’s tourism sector has experienced a remarkable recovery, making it a hub for business revenue, and creating diverse job opportunities. The City – with its unique landscapes, exciting experiences, and rich cultural diversity – has not only attracted many visitors to Cape Town but also ensured repeat visits.
A remarkable recovery
‘Seeing visitors returning to a destination shows their interest in a place, its practices, and its peoples. Return trips not only enrich visitors’ experiences but also contribute significantly to the economic vibrancy of our communities,” said the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Member for Economic Growth, Alderman James Vos.
“We want to thank everyone who visited us this December – whether it was their first visit or a return trip. The school holidays may soon be a distant memory, but our mountain stands ready to welcome you throughout the year,” says Parker.
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway first opened its doors on October 4th, 1929, and has since then transported over 31 million visitors up the mountain’s sharp inclines, offering them stunning 360-degree vistas of our beautiful city.
The original cable car, made of wood with a tin roof, could hold 19 passengers and a conductor, taking about 10 minutes to complete the trip to the summit, which stands 704 meters/ 1067 feet above sea level.
With the progression of technology, the cableway system has undergone substantial upgrades. Today, an advanced cable car featuring a rotating floor can smoothly carry up to 65 passengers to the mountain’s top in a mere four to five minutes.
THIS MEDIA RELEASE WAS COMPILED BY THE MEDIA TEAM OF THE CABLEWAY COMPANY.
