Tourism in Cape Town surges as airport connects to over 31 global destination

Cape Town International Airport processed more than 287 000 international two-way passengers, a 15% year-on-year increase, bringing total international passenger volumes to nearly 2.6 million between January and October.

The City is gearing up for a high-growth summer as the focus remains on global connectivity and destination readiness, with fresh data confirming the Western Cape is leading South Africa’s tourism surge.

Addressing tourism and business leaders, Mayoral Member for Economic Growth James Vos said the city’s visitor economy is anchored by its ability to connect with the world.

“You’ll often find me in a boardroom with airlines making the case for more routes into Cape Town,” he said. “And it’s paying off, we’re now connected to over 31 global destinations, with more than 228 international flights a week in peak season, and more on the way.”

Tourism, Vos said, remains one of Cape Town’s strongest economic engines, creating opportunities across accommodation, tours, transport and attractions. But connectivity is the key driver.

He outlined a five-point focus: land more flights, dock more cruise liners, host more conferences and events, strengthen product readiness, and run campaigns that convert interest into bookings.

“I’m really looking forward to launching the next phase of our This Is Cape Town campaign,” he said. “This rollout will reach audiences across all six continents, putting our city’s story in front of millions more potential visitors.”

He added that the city is preparing for a busy season, backed by enhanced safety and security deployments, expanded area cleaning and ongoing investment in mobility, water and energy infrastructure.

“A world-class city must offer a world-class experience,” he said.

The numbers show the payoff. Cape Town recorded 2.4 million overnight visitors last year, contributing R24.5 billion to the economy and supporting more than 106 000 jobs.

“That’s real growth, and we aim to build on it,” Vos said, adding that the city’s cuisines, cultures and communities will anchor the next campaign.

The Democratic Alliance welcomed Wesgro’s latest Air Access data, confirming strong growth in October.

It shared that the Cape Town International Airport processed more than 287 000 international two-way passengers, a 15% year-on-year increase. This brought the total of international passenger volumes to nearly 2.6 million between January and October.

Domestic travel also surged, with more than 750 000 two-way passengers in October, up 16% year-on-year. Total domestic volumes have surpassed 6.4 million this year, growing at 8%.

George Airport posted 84 000 two-way passengers in October, a 24% increase, with year-to-date figures now above 738 000 — up 15%.

The Western Cape accounted for more than a third of South Africa’s 927 426 international arrivals in October. The province also contributed more than a third of the country’s 8.56 million international visitors between January and October.

Growing demand is driving new routes, including LATAM’s first direct Cape Town–São Paulo service from September 2026, Emirates’ third daily Dubai–Cape Town flight from July 2026, Air Tanzania’s first direct Cape Town connection from December 2025, and CemAir’s new George–Hoedspruit route from May 2026.

Noko Masipa, MPP and DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, said: “October’s tourism performance shows a province in full stride. The Western Cape continues to attract more visitors due to our tourism offering. This momentum supports jobs, drives small business growth and positions the province for a strong summer season. The Democratic Alliance would like to thank government, all its partners across the tourism and aviation sector, and looks forward to welcoming even more visitors in the months ahead.”

Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.

Cape Argus