The City of Cape Town has expended their Tourism Safety Unit, while the Western Cape Government launched their own Tourism Safety Unit with Chrysalis graduates.

Tourism is a major contributor to both Cape Town’s and the Western Cape’s economy and it is hoped the sector will recover significantly on the back of Covid-19 restrictions which devastated tourism, and led to job losses.

The separate units will respectively be focused on ensuring that residents and visitors receive important safety information about tourist attractions and services available, as well as coordinate the optimal emergency deployment of resources and technology, in tourism hotspots areas frequented by both local and international tourists.

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says they want visitors and tourists to enjoy the Mother City without having to worry about petty crime.

Visible policing is but the most effective crime prevention activity, and the members of this unit will join the thousands of additional law enforcement officers we have deployed across the whole of Cape Town this year. We are expecting a bumper tourism season and we are doing everything we can to make sure that thousands of locals and international guests, can safely enjoy the summer season in our beautiful City.

The City of Cape Town’s Tourism Safety Unit will now have 28 Law Enforcement Officers, while the Western Cape Government unit will comprise of 26 Chrysalis graduates.

They will focus on:

• Helping to stop fraudsters at ATMs through strategic deployment
• Visible foot patrols will be conducted at the Table Mountain Cableway, and Lion’s Head hiking trails
• Help curb opportunistic pickpockets and petty criminals at car parks and other high-traffic tourism hotspots within the CBD.

Areas where they will be deployed include:

• Long Street
• V&A Waterfront
• Cape Town International Convention Centre
• Table Mountain Cableway
• Lion’s Head trails
• Grand Parade

The Western Cape Government has allocated just over R280 000 for the deployment of the Chrysalis graduates until the end of February next year.

Western Cape MEC for Finance and Economic Opportunities Mireille Wenger says the good news is that the Cape Town International Airport’s (CTIA) international terminal has hit a tourism recovery rate of 83% this October, compared to October 2019.

Community Safety MEC Reagen Allen says the deployment of the Chrysalis Academy graduates means greater visibility, and further peace of mind for both residents and visitors these holidays.

For more on Tourism Safety read here: Cape Town Tourism reminds travelers to remain vigilant