The Western Cape’s tourism sector experienced one of its best seasons yet as international and domestic arrivals continued to rise.
Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities, today (19 April 2016) officially released the summer season visitor numbers for the province during a press conference at Cape Town International Airport.
Deon Cloete, General Manager at Cape Town International Airport, briefed the media on airport movements.
Minister Winde tabled the tourism figures for the period between November 2015 and March 2016.
“Our tourism sector has experienced another phenomenal year. Figures for most of our biggest attractions are up from last year.
“Between November last year and March 2016, the V&A Waterfront welcomed 11.8 million visitors. This is up 5.8% from the same period in the previous year.
“Kirstenbosch also reported a 1.3% increase over the period under review, logging 466 646 visitors.
“I am also encouraged that we are starting to see a reversal in the downward trend in visitor numbers at Robben Island. During the period under review, we note the 24% increase in visitor numbers compared with the previous year. Just under 200 000 people visited the World Heritage Site between November last year and March 2016.”
Minister Winde said an analysis on air arrivals into Cape Town, conducted by Wesgro, illustrated the importance of air access. We achieved growth in international arrivals and departures from several markets.
“There has been an impressive 60% increase in Origin and Destination (O&D) passengers coming through Qatar for the time period, from 34 951 to 55 772 passengers. We can attribute this to our partnership with Qatar Airways through which we have actively promoted our destination. There has been an increase of 53% in O&D passengers from Turkey from 36 348 to 55 714. This growth is linked to the landing of Turkish Airlines flights into Cape Town.
“The European markets continue to make up a significant portion of tourist arrivals into Cape Town, accounting for about 45% of arrivals. We observed increases from Germany, the Netherlands and France during the period under review.
“It’s especially fitting that we’re hosting this event at Cape Town International Airport, which is the first touch point international visitors have with our region. I’d like to commend Deon and his team for the work they do to ensure we remain one of the world’s most welcoming destinations.”
Cloete said overall passenger numbers continued to show robust growth i.e. just over 10% for the financial year. On the International front arriving passengers grew by 7% while the Domestic arriving passengers grew by 10% for the same period. Regional growth also showed solid performing, growing by 20%.
“On an average day the airport processes close to 26 000 passengers, handles approximately 11 000 number of bags and uplifts nearly 1.2 million litres of aviation fuel.
On the busiest days these numbers, are closer to 36 000 passengers (27 Nov 15), 18 000 pieces of departure bags (5th Jan 2015) and 1.8 million litres of aviation fuel (4 Dec 15)” said Cloete.
“Over time, the airport has developed the capabilities to facilitate large numbers of passengers and visitors to the airport as result of major events. This includes facilitating events such as the Cycle tour, Two Oceans and Jazz Festival. For the year that was, on time performance closed out at 90%.
Thank you to all partners who have played in part in making this happen, but particularly to the airlines who have chosen Cape Town as their destination of choice. Even in the face of this growth the team was collectively able to ensure quality service as consistently recognised through global industry benchmarking” concluded Cloete.
Minister Winde said, looking forward, we anticipate the following key trends for the period between April 2016 and August 2016:
· USA passenger bookings are up 23%, from 10 844 to 13 301 passengers. The length of stay of USA passengers coming to Cape Town is up 16% over the same period (measured for stays of at least 22 days). The number of 4-person per booking numbers are up 25% over the same period, from 1004 to 1252 persons;
· In Europe, the United Kingdom, Germany and Netherlands passenger numbers on bookings are up 18%, 19% and 44% respectively over the period to come.
· In China, passenger numbers on bookings are up 52%;
Minister Winde said these trends were excellent news for the Western Cape, which is working with industry to counter seasonality.
“These figures are great news for jobs and growth in the province. Tourism is our fastest-growing sector, employing 204 000 residents in formal jobs. Through Project Khulisa, we are seeking to add up a further 100 000 jobs to the tourism sector.”
Minister Winde shared some of the Project Khulisa initiatives set to kick off this year:
· The development of a data and real-time intelligence dashboard to ensure the province can respond to global trends;
· Implementation of a Madiba Legacy Route. This includes the Madiba statue in the City and the provision of signage along the route;
· Launch of an online events portal that aggregates data for an all-year events calendar;
· Further work on landing direct flights to Cape Town.
Minister Winde issued a challenge to the tourism sector to keep the momentum going.
“We’ve had another outstanding year. Let’s keep up the good work and ensure that the next season is our best yet.”
Please see the visitor numbers below:
Cape Town International Airport |
||||||||||
Cape Town International Airport |
November 2014 |
November 2015 |
December 2014 |
December 2015 |
January 2015 |
January 2016 |
February 2015 |
February 2016 |
March 2015 |
March 2016 |
International |
75352 |
81200 |
84 649 |
88608 |
91 568 |
91482 |
78 909 |
84087 |
79368 |
84176 |
Regional |
6952 |
7964 |
7467 |
9794 |
5716 |
7975 |
5905 |
8079 |
6796 |
8999 |
Domestic |
298617 |
339600 |
344666 |
386481 |
259 |
310 462 |
293365 |
331348 |
343641 |
369628 |
Foot Count Into Tourism Offices |
||||||
Town |
Nov-15 |
Dec-15 |
Jan-16 |
Feb-16 |
Mar-16 |
TOTAL |
Swellendam |
1195 |
1154 |
998 |
1520 |
1345 |
7204 |
Suurbraak |
309 |
346 |
179 |
321 |
310 |
1736 |
Barrydale |
216 |
358 |
295 |
232 |
289 |
1747 |
Cape Agulhas |
7320 |
15026 |
9206 |
6924 |
10525 |
54686 |
Knysna |
3132 |
10044 |
3465 |
4193 |
3198 |
26949 |
Plettenberg Bay |
124 |
183 |
121 |
161 |
57 |
699 |
Gansbaai |
1253 |
2488 |
1405 |
1268 |
1365 |
9097 |
Calitzdorp |
119 |
117 |
114 |
101 |
118 |
732 |
Attractions |
|||||||
Attraction |
Period |
November 2015 |
December 2015 |
January 2016 |
February 2016 |
March 2016 |
Nov-Mar Total |
CAPE TOWN |
|||||||
Kirstenbosch |
2014/2015 |
86,117 |
116,986 |
97,661 |
75,172 |
84,627 |
460,563 |
2015/2016 |
83,344 |
114,389 |
96,372 |
83,569 |
88,972 |
466,646 |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
-3.2% |
-2.2% |
-1.3% |
11.2% |
5.1% |
1.3% |
|
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway |
2014/2015 |
78,939 |
113,310 |
105,883 |
79,387 |
96,638 |
474,157 |
2015/2016 |
102,817 |
149,682 |
100,147 |
109,605 |
Data not yet available |
- |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
30.2% |
32.1% |
-5.4% |
38.1% |
- |
- |
|
Table Mountain National Park |
2014/2015 |
247,673 |
325,620 |
295,183 |
236,482 |
245,332 |
1,350,290 |
2015/2016 |
284,666 |
362,718 |
308,486 |
298,275 |
307,142 |
1,561,287 |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
14.9% |
11.4% |
4.5% |
26.1% |
25.2% |
15.6% |
|
TMNP: Boulders |
2014/2015 |
66,332 |
77,066 |
68,474 |
62,251 |
65,023 |
339,146 |
2015/2016 |
76,284 |
85,134 |
81,555 |
77,665 |
82,768 |
403,406 |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
15.0% |
10.5% |
19.1% |
24.8% |
27.3% |
18.9% |
|
TMNP: Cape of Good Hope |
2014/2015 |
87,032 |
104,572 |
93,300 |
79,780 |
80,738 |
445,422 |
2015/2016 |
99,728 |
112,108 |
102,788 |
100,066 |
108,514 |
523,204 |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
14.6% |
7.2% |
10.2% |
25.4% |
34.4% |
17.5% |
|
V&A Waterfront |
2014/2015 |
2,077,372 |
2,950,990 |
2,288,574 |
1,829,131 |
2,023,409 |
11,169,476 |
2015/2016 |
2,061,733 |
3,058,558 |
2,448,535 |
1,991,469 |
2,260,136 |
11,820,431 |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
-0.8% |
3.6% |
7.0% |
8.9% |
11.7% |
5.8% |
|
Robben Island |
2014/2015 |
31,222 |
33,447 |
34,964 |
28,399 |
31,061 |
159,093 |
2015/2016 |
35,846 |
47,945 |
40,590 |
35,998 |
38,060 |
198,439 |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
14.8% |
43.3% |
16.1% |
26.8% |
22.5% |
24.7% |
|
CAPE WEST COAST |
|||||||
West Coast National Park |
2014/2015 |
15,268 |
36,598 |
34,729 |
17,437 |
18,279 |
122,311 |
2015/2016 |
16,863 |
41,370 |
35,668 |
21,938 |
26,371 |
142,210 |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
10.4% |
13.0% |
2.7% |
25.8% |
44.3% |
16.3% |
|
|
|||||||
West Coast National Park: Unit nights sold |
2014/2015 |
48 |
53 |
53 |
46 |
56 |
256 |
2015/2016 |
47 |
56 |
59 |
51 |
56 |
269 |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
-2.1% |
5.7% |
11.3% |
10.9% |
0.0% |
5.1% |
|
|
|||||||
West Coast National Park: Bed nights sold |
2014/2015 |
210 |
227 |
194 |
151 |
207 |
989 |
2015/2016 |
163 |
234 |
210 |
158 |
230 |
995 |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
-22.4% |
3.1% |
8.2% |
4.6% |
11.1% |
0.6% |
|
CAPE OVERBERG |
|||||||
De Hoop Nature Reserve |
2014/2015 |
2210 |
3451 |
- |
- |
1286 |
6947 |
2015/2016 |
1507 |
1827 |
2649 |
Awaiting data |
Awaiting data |
- |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
-32% |
-47% |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|||||||
De Mond Nature Reserve |
2014/2015 |
607 |
1630 |
1541 |
691 |
715 |
5148 |
2015/2016 |
2210 |
3687 |
1304 |
Awaiting data |
Awaiting data |
- |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
264% |
126% |
-15% |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|||||||
Cape Agulhas Lighthouse |
2014/2015 |
1717 |
5179 |
3277 |
1836 |
2071 |
14080 |
2015/2016 |
5026 |
2649 |
3367 |
Awaiting data |
Awaiting data |
- |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
193% |
-49% |
3% |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|||||||
Agulhas National Park |
2014/2015 |
2007 |
5700 |
3687 |
2368 |
2624 |
16386 |
2015/2016 |
2897 |
6226 |
3785 |
2620 |
4124 |
19652 |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
44% |
9% |
3% |
11% |
57% |
20% |
|
|
|||||||
Bontebok National Park |
2014/2015 |
1489 |
2649 |
1859 |
1547 |
1827 |
9371 |
2015/2016 |
1894 |
3087 |
1969 |
1700 |
2307 |
10957 |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
27% |
17% |
6% |
10% |
26% |
17% |
|
|
|||||||
Harold Porter National Botanical Gardens |
2014/2015 |
3703 |
8799 |
11208 |
3790 |
3812 |
31312 |
2015/2016 |
2649 |
1126 |
7988 |
Awaiting data |
Awaiting data |
- |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
-28% |
-87% |
-29% |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|||||||
Kogelberg Nature Reserve |
2014/2015 |
370 |
1235 |
885 |
414 |
493 |
3397 |
2015/2016 |
2649 |
3687 |
969 |
Awaiting data |
Awaiting data |
- |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
616% |
199% |
9% |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
|||||||
Stony Point |
2014/2015 |
10079 |
11082 |
8832 |
6310 |
7114 |
43417 |
2015/2016 |
3135 |
1836 |
8572 |
Awaiting data |
Awaiting data |
- |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
-69% |
-83% |
-3% |
- |
- |
- |
|
CAPE GARDEN ROUTE & KLEIN KAROO |
|||||||
Cango Caves |
2014/2015 |
21997 |
30221 |
21337 |
14637 |
16015 |
104 207 |
2015/2016 |
21547 |
30792 |
21245 |
17974 |
25270 |
116 828 |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
-2% |
2% |
0% |
23% |
58% |
12% |
|
|
|||||||
Wilderness National Park |
2014/2015 |
8502 |
25495 |
17578 |
4388 |
4781 |
60 744 |
2015/2016 |
1166 |
21300 |
17920 |
6820 |
11039 |
58 245 |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
-86% |
-16% |
2% |
55% |
131% |
-4% |
|
|
|||||||
Tsitsikamma National Park |
2014/2015 |
31235 |
38586 |
34890 |
23512 |
27587 |
155 810 |
2015/2016 |
34093 |
40704 |
33744 |
31682 |
40676 |
180 899 |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
9% |
5% |
-3% |
35% |
47% |
16% |
|
CAPE KAROO |
|||||||
Karoo National Park |
2014/2015 |
3246 |
5759 |
3575 |
2808 |
3475 |
18 863 |
2015/2016 |
2553 |
6246 |
3244 |
2652 |
3912 |
18 607 |
|
Y-O-Y % Change |
-21% |
8% |
-9% |
-6% |
13% |
-1% |
Bronwynne Jooste
Spokesperson: Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities
Responsible for Tourism, Economic Development and Agriculture
Tel: 021 483 3550
Cell: 060 970 4301