…By Roland Peterson for TDPel Media.
Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) has reported promising numbers, indicating a full recovery compared to pre-pandemic levels in April 2019.
According to the monthly tourism report compiled by Wesgro, the official trade, investment, and tourism promotion agency of the Western Cape Government, the airport welcomed 67,747 tourist arrivals in April 2023.
Of these, 87% originated from overseas markets, while 13% were from Africa.
Top Source Markets and Passenger Numbers
The report highlights key findings, including the UK being the leading source market for Cape Town, followed by Germany, the US, the Netherlands, and France.
International two-way passengers through Cape Town International Airport in April 2023 reached 218,325, surpassing full recovery when compared to April 2019 (106%).
Moreover, domestic two-way passengers totaled 574,528, demonstrating an 80% recovery compared to April 2019.
Tourism Recovery and Growth Spots
Overseas tourism in Cape Town achieved full recovery levels, matching those from April 2019.
The report also identifies the top-five tourism spots with the highest year-on-year growth rates in April 2023, including Stony Point (194%), Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (67%), Table Mountain National Park: Cape of Good Hope (61%), Cango Caves (57%), and Table Mountain National Park (51%).
Cape of Good Hope specifically showed a 61% recovery rate compared to 2019.
Moving Beyond Recovery
Mireille Wenger, the Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, expressed her delight at reaching pre-pandemic levels of tourism in the region.
She emphasized the importance of shifting focus from recovery to further growth in the tourism and hospitality sector.
Wenger believes that increased tourist numbers will lead to more job opportunities in the Western Cape.
Looking Ahead
Cape Town International Airport’s successful recovery in April 2023 reflects a positive trend in the tourism industry, with promising numbers in both international and domestic arrivals.
The achievement of pre-pandemic levels provides optimism for future growth and signals a positive outlook for the tourism and hospitality sectors in the Western Cape region.
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