City calls on residents to back Table Mountain in Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction contest
Table Mountain, one of Cape Town’s most iconic landmarks, is in the running for Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction at the World Travel Awards as the City calls for public support.
Image: Murray Swart/ Cape Argus
The City of Cape Town has called on residents to rally behind Table Mountain following its nomination as Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction at the World Travel Awards.
Economic Growth mayco member, James Vos, said the recognition highlights the global appeal of one of the city’s most iconic landmarks and its central role in the local tourism economy.
“Table Mountain is more than just an iconic view, it’s one of the New7Wonders of Nature and central to Cape Town’s tourism offering,” Vos said.
He said the nomination underscores the importance of tourism as a key economic driver for the city.
“Tourism supports over 106 000 jobs in Cape Town, accounting for nearly 7% of our workforce. When we promote attractions like Table Mountain, we’re also supporting businesses and livelihoods,” he said.
Table Mountain is no stranger to the accolade, having won Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction five times, in 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, and remaining a consistent contender in both regional and global categories over more than a decade.
The scale of its appeal is reflected in visitor numbers, with the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway having welcomed more than 33 million visitors since opening in 1929.
The attraction is also a key driver of visitor spending, supporting jobs across hospitality, transport, guiding services and small businesses throughout the city, and remains one of the top reasons travellers choose Cape Town.
However, the competition is formidable.
Table Mountain faces rivals including Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt and Botswana’s Okavango Delta, alongside other African natural reserves and heritage sites, as well as fellow South African attractions such as Robben Island and the V&A Waterfront.
In global categories, the landmark has also competed against internationally recognised sites such as the Burj Khalifa, the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal, underscoring the scale and prestige of the awards.
Vos said increased support for the nomination could translate into broader economic benefits.
“More visitors mean more jobs and economic opportunities for our residents,” he said.
He encouraged residents to cast their votes in support of the landmark, positioning the campaign as both a show of civic pride and an opportunity to strengthen Cape Town’s tourism sector.
Voting can be done at: https://www.worldtravelawards.com/vote
The outcome of the 2026 awards is expected later this year.