Cape Town Air Access, powered by Wesgro, has announced a record-breaking achievement in two-way passenger traffic at Cape Town International Airport’s international terminal for December.
During this period, more than 317 000 two-way international passengers travelled through the terminal, the highest monthly total ever recorded in the airport, beating the previous high of 290 000 passengers processed in January 2020.
It is estimated that foreign passengers arriving at the international terminal over this period injected almost R1.9 billion (€92.4m) in direct tourism spend into the Western Cape economy, aiding economic growth and sustaining critical jobs across the province.
This remarkable milestone buoyed the overall two-way international passenger numbers for 2023, which surpassed 2.8 million, eclipsing the previous benchmark of 2.6 million passengers recorded in 2019.
Additionally, the total two-way international passenger figures for 2023 have nearly doubled over the past decade from 1.5 million recorded in 2013. This increase showcases the growth in demand for Cape Town and the Western Cape as a premier travel destination.
Regional GM – Cape Town International Airport Cluster, Mark Maclean, said: “We are very pleased with the passenger growth because of the positive impact on tourism and trade, the economy and job creation. We will now focus on the coming weeks as passengers return home, and the remainder of the peak season. We are forecasting continued high passenger volumes as our visitors enjoy the summer.”
“These outstanding figures highlight the robustness and diversity of our destination, showcasing the success of our marketing efforts and strategic partnerships. The authenticity in our marketing allowed us to present the rich variety of offerings to a global audience, both new and returning travellers,” said James Vos, City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth.
“Through our collaborative partnerships with various sectors and industry bodies, Cape Town and the province have strengthened connections with key source markets worldwide. My unwavering commitment is to continue working towards increasing the number of flights bringing investors and visitors, aiming to secure tourism-related jobs in every Cape Town household.”
