Cape Town, 16 January 2025 – The 2024 festive season once again showcased Cape Town’s appeal as a leading destination, drawing local and international visitors to its iconic attractions, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture.
While the city was lively throughout December, feedback from the tourism industry painted a mixed picture compared to the previous year, with variations in visitor numbers and spending across different attractions. The figures that have not yet been published include Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and the V&A Waterfront, which will indicate the volume of visitors in the city over the season.
Locals Embrace Cape Town and Its Diverse Offerings
Cape Town remains a favourite destination for South Africans, offering plenty of pocket-friendly experiences for savvy travellers. According to the January Domestic Travel Take-up Report, which surveyed 1100 South Africans, 54% travelled over the December holidays, with the Western Cape emerging as the most popular destination (29%).
Attractions like the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway saw strong local support, with 70% of its December visitors being South Africans.
“It’s heartwarming to see so many South Africans enjoying their backyard,” says Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Executive Director, Selma Hercules.
“Despite some disruptions due to weather, we came close to pre-COVID numbers and even saw a slight increase compared to last year. It’s been a pleasure to welcome local and international visitors to experience our iconic mountain’s magic.”
With increased financial pressure, the local market is increasingly making use of alternative accommodation options, self-catering (36%), friends and family (35%), guesthouses (14%), hotels (11%), holiday houses (10%), Airbnb (7%) and camping or caravans (6%). An impressive 63% said that they were successful in reducing their travel spending by looking for discounts, specials and promotions (50%), spending less on eating out while travelling (49%) and cutting back on gifts/shopping (44%).
“About 70% of our business over December and early January came from South Africans. Overall, the property was slightly busier than in 2023, especially in the winter months when we had a lot of visitors from outside South Africa. Overall, there is a promising outlook for the next season, “ says the MD of Cool Runnings Toboggan Course in Durbanville, Frank Unger.
A City for Everyone
CEO of Cape Town Tourism, Enver Duminy, says the city’s ability to attract local and international visitors during the festive season shows its diverse offering.
“December proved that Cape Town is for everyone. The data shows that people are more geographically spread, which has always been our mission, to encourage visitors to explore further and spread the love. It is also clear that visitors carefully consider what they spend their money on, and there’s something here to suit every pocket. We’re famous for luxury, but plenty of gems exist. Whether it’s places to stay, eat, or explore, Cape Town ensures no one’s left out of the fun!”
Spending Shows Positive Growth
Many businesses reported increased spending compared to the previous year. Cape Town Tourism members indicated slightly improved business performance overall, with international visitors, primarily from the USA, UK, and Germany, remaining the largest contributors and accounting for approximately 70% of their business.
Mixed Performance Among Key Attractions
Some attractions, such as the Cape Point Nature Reserve, experienced sizable growth. The reserve saw a 15% increase in visitors. Chapman’s Peak Drive recorded a 2% increase, while the Two Oceans Aquarium saw visitor numbers rise by 5%.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and Groot Constantia enjoyed a successful festive season despite facing some challenges. Both destinations experienced a dip in visitor numbers, mainly due to poor weather conditions and fewer events compared to 2023. However, Groot Constantia’s ability to generate increased revenue with fewer visitors marked a significant success, providing guests with an enhanced, more exclusive experience while delivering strong financial performance.
Similarly, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens continued to attract visitors, offering its renowned natural beauty and a late start to its concert season. Robben Island reported fully booked tours but had to cancel tours on nine days in December due to bad weather.
Despite these hurdles, these attractions remain beloved by visitors, with their unique charm and appeal shining through in the enthusiasm of those who experience them.
A Season of Success and Continued Commitment
Overall, the festive season reaffirmed Cape Town’s position as a world-class destination that appeals to a diverse audience. While the season came with challenges, Cape Town Tourism and its partners are strengthening their commitment to inclusivity, sustainability, and responsible tourism to ensure the city remains a destination that captivates and welcomes everyone.
“Cape Town Tourism and our incredible members are all about making the Mother City a place that’s open, welcoming, and full of unforgettable experiences,” says Duminy.
“We’re not just here to bring in visitors; we want people to fall in love with Cape Town, whether local families exploring their city or international travellers soaking up its magic for the first time.”
Impressive Performance
The Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, James Vos, welcomed Cape Town’s tourism sector’s impressive performance.
“Tourism isn’t just about visitors, it’s about jobs and opportunities,” says Vos. “The 2023 Gross Value Add of the industry for Cape Town was more than R27 billion in addition to supporting over 91,000 jobs. Every single traveller is critically important for local businesses, industries and the economy and directly impacts economic opportunities for Capetonians.”
Vos notes that these achievements didn’t happen by chance. “We’ve worked smart and hard to put Cape Town on the global map, securing connections to key source markets through strategic partnerships and innovative marketing campaigns. Every flight we land, every cruise ship that docks, and vehicle of visitors bring more business and jobs for Capetonians.”
“Tourism is the engine of Cape Town’s economy,” Vos adds. “From small businesses to large-scale operators, the knock-on effects are massive. Our focus is on ensuring this sector’s benefits are felt across the city, creating sustainable growth and real opportunities for our communities.”
