The latest Western Cape tourism figures show a 69% increase in international passengers and record visits to local attractions.

International two-way passengers through Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) between January and July 2023 reached 1.6 million, growing by 69% compared to the same period in 2022.

This is according to the monthly tourism report, compiled by the Western Cape Government’s (WCG) official trade, investment, and tourism promotion agency, Wesgro.

The Provincial MEC of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger says as September is Tourism Month, it’s an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the contribution the tourism and hospitality sector makes to both the economy and job creation.

The data in this month’s report points to an impressive winter season. This then bodes very well for our upcoming peak summer season, when we can look forward to possibly surpassing the previous summer.

Highlights from the report:

• International two-way passengers remained strong between January and July 2023, reaching 1.6 million, according to Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 106% year-to-date and growing by 69% compared to the same period in 2022;
• 3.8 million domestic two-way passengers passed through CTIA between January and July 2023, based on ACSA data;
• George Airport two-way passengers reached 449,837 between Jan and Jul 2023, a 3% year-on-year increase compared to the same period in 2022;
• Footfall to 21 participating attractions across the six regions of the Western Cape recorded a total of 469,854 visitors in July 2023, a 40% growth in the number of visitors when compared to July 2022; and
• The top 5 highest year-on-year growth rates in July 2023 were recorded for Table Mountain National Park: Boulders (68%), !Khwa ttu (51%), Table Mountain National Park: Cape of Good Hope (50%), Table Mountain National Park (50%) and Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (48%).

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Wenger says the province is more determined than ever to attract more visitors -both domestic and international- to the Western Cape, because more tourists mean more jobs.

Earlier this week, Wesgro, confirmed the significant impact tourism has on the provincial economy, including:

• That the arrival of 605 000 foreign passengers injected R24.3 billion into the Western Cape economy in 2022 alone, supporting 10 600 jobs;
• This means that for every 100 international passengers travelling to Cape Town and the Western Cape, R2.1 million is generated in direct tourism spend; and
• The same 100 passengers support the movement of R1.4 million worth of air cargo for the province.

“These impressive statistics show just how catalytic tourism is to the Western Cape. Which is why boosting tourism is also of one of the Priority Focus Area’s of the Western Cape Government’s ambitious new economic action plan, ‘Growth For Jobs’. This plan aims to achieve a R1 trillion, jobs-rich and inclusive provincial economy by 2035 that is growing by between 4% and 6% in real terms, so that we can lift many more people out of poverty and into prosperity” concluded Wenger.