Cape Town Air Access and Wesgro have jointly released new data highlighting the significant contribution of international travelers to the local economy. The collaborative project aims to boost the city’s aviation industry, and the Western Cape’s tourism, trade, and investment promotion agency, respectively. The study shows that air travel remains crucial to the local economy, with its farreaching influence on job creation, direct tourism spending, GDP expansion, and air cargo logistics.
South Africa’s economic challenges have been met with success in the Western Cape, which has become a beacon of hope for job creation. According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey by Statistics South Africa, the region has outperformed all other provinces. The Western Cape generated a remarkable 368,000 jobs between the second quarter of 2022 and the same period in 2023, marking a 15.7% increase in employment yearonyear, surpassing Gauteng.
The Western Cape’s tourism industry has shown impressive resilience amidst the pandemic. The sector has surpassed prepandemic levels of tourist arrivals, playing a vital role in job creation in the region. Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) has experienced significant growth in international twoway passengers, exceeding prepandemic levels by 104%. The Mother City’s recovery has outpaced the rest of South Africa, indicating a brighter future for Western Cape tourism.
Cape Town and the Western Cape have experienced a recordbreaking cruise tourism season between October 2022 and May 2023, establishing the region as a top destination for luxury cruise holidays. Highspending tourists from the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom have contributed to the success of the season.
