Two-way passengers through Cape Town International Airport’s international terminal surpassed two million between January and October this year, exceeding pre-pandemic levels and growing by 57%, when compared with the same period in 2022.

On the domestic front, over 5.5 million two-way passengers passed through CPT’s domestic terminal between January and October year-to-date, increasing by 15% compared with the same period last year.

Two-way passengers through George Airport reached 645 172 between January and October, a 3% year-on-year increase for the same period in 2022.

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

“We are very excited for the upcoming summer tourism season, which is shaping up to be truly impressive, and possibly even record-breaking as we are expecting 25% more international visitors than last season, exceeding one million inbound seats for the first time ever. This is fantastic news for a sector that contributes so much in terms of economic impact and job creation in the Western Cape,” said Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger.

Other highlights from the report:

• International route highlights include Air France returning with a seasonal non-stop service between Paris and Cape Town from the end of October, operating three flights a week until the end of March, and increasing to five flights a week between January 17 and February 27 next year.
• The year-to-date total air arrivals from Africa fully recovered for the first time in October 2023, when compared with the period Jan-Oct 2019.
• As at October 2023, the cumulative total of US tourist arrivals to Cape Town (via air) exceeded the UK and led as the top air market to Cape Town between January and October year-to-date, with the UK a very close second, followed by Germany, the Netherlands and France in the top five positions.
• The European market remains the largest contributor to air arrivals into Cape Town, with six out of the top ten source markets originating from the continent.
• The cumulative total of tourists between January and October reflected full recovery from eight out of the top ten source markets to Cape Town (via air), against the same period in 2019 (Jan-Oct). These markets included US (144%), UK (103%), Germany (102%), Netherlands (111%), Italy (109%), India (104%), Canada (103%) and Zimbabwe (186%).
• Footfall to 35 participating attractions across the six regions of the Western Cape recorded a total of 399 308 visitors in October 2023, a 21% growth in the number of visitors when compared with October 2022.
• The top-five highest year-on-year growth rates in October were recorded for Anysberg Nature Reserve (867%), Stony Point Eco Venue (109%), Walker Bay Nature Reserve (65%), Table Mountain National Park: Boulders (47%) and Table Mountain National Park: Cape of Good Hope (31%).
• According to the Tourism Sentiment Index rankings for Q3 2023, the Western Cape had a Tourism Sentiment Score of 24.6. This places the Western Cape amongst the top regions in the world with a global rank of #14.
• The top contributors to the Western Cape's overall performance were Winery and Vineyards (21%), Restaurants & Dining (16%) and Beaches (12%). Winery and Vineyards ranked amongst the top destinations in the world with a global rank of #6 this quarter.