"Cape Town: The Emerging Epicenter of Global Gatherings" - Cape Town Today
Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

“Cape Town: The Emerging Epicenter of Global Gatherings”

4 mins read
global events economic impact

Cape Town is becoming a hotspot for global events, with a range of international sports contests, music carnivals, and cultural assemblies taking place in 2023. These events, including Africa’s maiden Netball World Cup and the city’s first-ever Formula E race, are expected to inject billions of rands into the local economy and create thousands of job opportunities. Cape Town is set to continue its growth as an international events host in 2024, with an exciting lineup of events already planned.

Cape Town: The Emerging Epicenter of Global Gatherings

What events can be expected in Cape Town in 2023?

The year 2023 in Cape Town will be marked by a variety of international sports contests, music carnivals, and cultural assemblies, including Africa’s maiden Netball World Cup, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the city’s first-ever Formula E race, and the Loeries Creative Week. These events will further cement Cape Town’s status as a global event hotspot.

A Year Full of Events in 2023

The seaside metropolis of Cape Town was humming with a host of activities and occasions in the year 2023. The year was highlighted by a captivating array of international sports contests, music carnivals, and cultural assemblies, imbuing the city’s timechart with radiant colors of multiplicity and thrill.

Africa’s maiden [Netball World Cup](https://capetown.today/netball-world-cup-2019-a-historic-event-on-african-soil/), the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the city’s first-ever [Formula E race](https://capetown.today/the-electrifying-journey-of-motorsports-formula-es-cape-town-e-prix/), and the Loeries Creative Week laid the groundwork for this lively assembly of events. In a cultural climax, the [Tweede Nuwe Jaar Minstrel Street Parade](https://capetown.today/cape-towns-cultural-gala-the-cape-malay-choir-road-march-and-tweede-nuwe-jaar-parade/) wrapped up the year on a high note. The Events Permit Office of the City of Cape Town was at the heart of this magnificent extravaganza, granting permissions for over 1,200 events throughout the year.

Role of the City and its Economic Impact

The City shone not just as a venue, but also as a supportive pillar. Its Events Support Process extended assistance to more than 170 events, ensuring seamless production. The hard work reaped rich dividends as three major events alone injected R2 billion into Cape Town’s economy. This reflected both direct and indirect economic benefits, and underscored the importance of destination marketing.

The economic ripple effect went beyond these flagship events. A mere 20 events sparked an additional R1.9 billion in direct economic activity, thanks to spending by attendees, event planners, and participants. These events drew the gaze of over 1.3 million individuals, spotlighting the top 40 events, and thereby reinforcing Cape Town’s status as a global events hotspot.

Sectorial Growth and Appreciation

These events played a crucial role in stimulating growth across multiple sectors including lodging, food, travel, retail, and tourism. A clear indicator of the city’s flourishing local economy was the propensity of event planners for local vendors for various services.

Alderman JP Smith, the City’s Mayco member for safety and security, expressed gratitude for these efforts expressing, ‘Event planners have labored relentlessly over the past 15 months, backed by the City’s Events Department, to guide the events in the direction we envisioned pre-pandemic. We would like to laud everyone involved for their tremendous effort.’

In addition to the economic impetus, these events also generated over 26,000 job opportunities across diverse sectors like security, catering, logistics, and transportation.

Looking Forward to 2024

As we anticipate 2024, Cape Town continues to soar as a nexus of international events. The Tweede Nuwe Jaar Minstrel Street Parade and the SA20 Final at Newlands will kick off the year, with the Cape Town Carnival, Africa Travel Week, and Comic Con Cape Town soon to follow. The year’s highlight will be the eagerly awaited rugby showdown between the Springboks and the All Blacks at DHL Stadium.

With its unparalleled mix of natural allure and cultural variety, Cape Town continues to enchant the world as an international events host. Its continually evolving event panorama, together with the unwavering backing from the city’s administration, promises a bright and dynamic future.

As Cape Town makes its presence felt on the global stage, stay in the loop with the city’s lively events itinerary at eventsincapetown.com. To experience the city from a fresh perspective, make the most of the exciting discounted offer on an adventurous Segway tour here.

FAQ

1. Why is Cape Town becoming a hotspot for global events?

Cape Town is becoming a hotspot for global events due to its mix of natural allure and cultural variety. With its continually evolving event panorama and the unwavering backing from the city’s administration, Cape Town promises a bright and dynamic future as an international events host.

2. What events can be expected in Cape Town in 2023?

In 2023, Cape Town will host a variety of international sports contests, music carnivals, and cultural assemblies, including Africa’s maiden Netball World Cup, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the city’s first-ever Formula E race, and the Loeries Creative Week.

3. What is the economic impact of these events on Cape Town?

These events are expected to inject billions of rands into the local economy and create thousands of job opportunities. In 2023, three major events alone injected R2 billion into Cape Town’s economy, with additional R1.9 billion in direct economic activity sparked by 20 events. These events also generated over 26,000 job opportunities across diverse sectors like security, catering, logistics, and transportation.

4. How does the City of Cape Town support these events?

The City of Cape Town provides support to events through its Events Support Process, which extended assistance to more than 170 events in 2023, ensuring seamless production. The Events Permit Office of the City of Cape Town also granted permissions for over 1,200 events throughout the year.

5. Which sectors benefit from these events?

These events play a crucial role in stimulating growth across multiple sectors including lodging, food, travel, retail, and tourism. A clear indicator of the city’s flourishing local economy was the propensity of event planners for local vendors for various services.

6. What events can be expected in Cape Town in 2024?

In 2024, Cape Town will host the Tweede Nuwe Jaar Minstrel Street Parade, the SA20 Final at Newlands, the Cape Town Carnival, Africa Travel Week, and Comic Con Cape Town. The year’s highlight will be the eagerly awaited rugby showdown between the Springboks and the All Blacks at DHL Stadium.

Previous Story

The Thrill of Cricket: India’s Triumph at Newlands

Next Story

Embracing Sustainability: South Africa’s Revolutionary Renewable Energy Projects

Latest from Blog

The South African Rand’s Historic Plunge: A Reflection of Political and Economic Turmoil

In 2025, the South African Rand took a historic nosedive, reaching its lowest point ever against the euro and pound. Political chaos from a controversial national budget, along with new US tariffs, caused panic among investors, leading them to pull money out of the country. On April 9, the rand fell to R21.81/€ and above R25/£, creating a wave of uncertainty and rising inflation in South Africa. This crisis reflects not only economic struggles but also the deep political issues within the nation, urging everyone to unite for a better future.

South Africa’s VAT Controversy: A Battle for Economic Stability and Social Justice

South Africa is facing a heated debate over a proposed increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) from 15% to 16% by 2026. The government believes this hike is necessary to fund vital services like health and education but promises to help lowincome families with expanded social grants and zerorated food items. However, this plan has met fierce opposition from the Democratic Alliance party, which argues it will unfairly burden the poor. As tensions rise within the coalition government, this issue reflects deeper struggles for fairness and justice in a nation still healing from past inequalities. The outcome of this tax increase could change the way South Africa balances economic needs with social responsibility.

Envisioning Hope: The “And yet we imagine” Exhibition

The “And yet we imagine” exhibition at the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation in Cape Town is a vibrant celebration of creativity and hope. Running until May 2, 2025, it showcases diverse art forms, from poetry to performance, all aimed at inspiring a sustainable future. Visitors can join workshops and discussions, sharing their own dreams for a better world. This exhibition calls on everyone to imagine together, highlighting the power of art to spark change and unite communities in facing our biggest challenges. It’s a beautiful reminder that, even in tough times, we can dream of a brighter tomorrow.

Controversy Surrounds New Orleans’ Mardi Gras Zulu Parade

The Zulu Parade at New Orleans’ Mardi Gras is causing a stir because many South Africans find its imagery offensive. Features like blackface and outdated stereotypes upset people who feel their rich culture is being disrespected. While the parade aims to celebrate African American heritage, it blurs the line between honoring and appropriating Zulu culture. This controversy highlights how important it is to understand and respect different traditions, reminding us to think carefully about how we represent others. Ultimately, it’s a call for more empathy and dialogue in our diverse world.

Navigating Cybersecurity: Lessons from the Cell C Data Breach

The Cell C data breach is a big wakeup call about how important cybersecurity is in our digital lives. It shows that companies need to teach their users how to protect their personal information and be clear about what’s happening when things go wrong. After the breach, Cell C stepped up by creating an Information Hub to help users understand cyber threats and encouraging them to sign up for Protective Registration to guard against fraud. This situation reminds us that staying safe online is not just about technology; it’s also about being smart and aware.