The Western Cape has recorded an impressive rise in tourism figures for the first half of 2023, as the province continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

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

“September is Tourism Month and is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the incredible contribution the tourism and hospitality sector makes to the economy and job creation in our province. 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,” said Western Cape Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger.

Other highlights from the report include:

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

Minister Wenger continued: “We are more determined than ever to attract more visitors – both domestic and international – to the Western Cape, where there is something for everyone, no matter what you are looking for. We have made this our mission 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 R24.3bn (€1.1bn) 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, R2.1m (€102 380) is generated in direct tourism spend.
• The same 100 passengers support the movement of R1.4m (€68 253) worth of air cargo to the province.

“These impressive statistics show how catalytic tourism is to the Western Cape. Which is why boosting tourism is also one of the Priority Focus Areas of the Western Cape Government’s ambitious new economic action plan, ‘Growth For Jobs’. This plan aims to achieve a R1trn (€48.3bn), jobs-rich and inclusive provincial economy by 2035 that is growing between 4% and 6% in real terms so that we can lift many more people out of poverty and into prosperity,” concluded Wenger.