Western Cape Poised for Record Summer Tourism Season with Focus on Safety and Connectivity

According to Dr Ivan Meyer, provincial Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, the Western Cape is set for another bumper summer tourism season in 2024.

Meyer was speaking at the province’s third annual Summer Tourism Readiness Dialogue, which was held yesterday in Cape Town. This event brings together stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industries, the diplomatic corps, and role players involved in safety, emergency services, and disaster management to solidify plans to ensure visitors’ safety.

“Visitor safety is the foundation of tourism, and I am pleased to report that there has been significant progress made over the past year in bringing various stakeholders together to implement practical solutions to some of the risks visitors may sometimes face,” he said.

This comes from an impressive 11% year-to-date growth in two-way passengers passing through the international terminal at Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) and a 7% year-to-date growth in domestic passenger movements. Minister Meyer states that 27 airlines will service the airport during summer, connecting Cape Town to 31 destinations on 38 routes. He says the Western Cape has never been as well connected with major international tourism markets as it currently is.

The Cape Town and Mossel Bay ports will also be humming with cruise passengers. Nearly 200,000 passengers and crew are expected to visit the Western Cape’s shores on 88 ship calls, a new record for the province.

Safety is a top priority for the Western Cape Government. According to Meyer, the province is guided by the Provincial Tourism Safety Strategy and the coordination of activities between his department and other stakeholders involved in safety, disaster management and emergency services.

The Minister briefed the event on his department’s initiatives, which include a tourism law enforcement unit – the only one of its kind in the country. This is a joint initiative of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT) and the City of Cape Town. The unit is deployed at some of the city’s top tourist attractions and provides visible policing and assistance to tourists and members of the public.

Other initiatives include awareness campaigns to emphasise practical measures visitors can take on the road, in public spaces, or hiking. In addition to these measures, DEDAT and Cape Town Tourism are implementing programmes that ensure visitors have professional support available.

Minister Meyer asked what he sees as some of the most significant visitor safety risks. He said that tourists must also do their part and act responsibly when visiting sites such as Table Mountain National Park. “We are encouraged by recent initiatives, including the formalisation of the Volunteer Safety Services, which will allow for greater coordination between SANParks and volunteer organisations active in the park. I am also pleased that the Table Mountain Safety Forum has been resurrected. We will continue to support SANParks and the City of Cape Town to ensure that visitors are warned about potential dangers, that more human resources are deployed on the mountain and that we improve wayfinding and signage.”

The Minister is particularly optimistic about the upcoming tourism season, given efforts by the Department of Home Affairs to make it easier for tourists from high-growth markets, such as China and India, to visit the country. The Western Cape is also well-placed to capitalise on the recent introduction of a digital nomad visa.

“Our lobbying efforts are bearing fruit, and I am happy to report that the Western Cape Government is making additional submissions to the Minister of Home Affairs regarding how his department can implement further reforms,” he added.

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