Tourists flocking to sunny Cape Town

Accommodation establishments along the Garden Route have also reported "very high" occupancy rates.

Accommodation establishments along the Garden Route have also reported "very high" occupancy rates.

Published Dec 22, 2011

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Visitor numbers to the Western Cape increased significantly in November, tourism MEC Alan Winde said on Wednesday.

Winde said international arrivals at Cape Town International Airport rose by 14 percent compared to the same period in 2010.

“Based on early calculations, I am optimistic that the province’s tourism industry will experience a good summer season.

“In November 2011, the Cape Town International Airport registered a 14 percent increase in international arrivals, an 11.7 percent increase in regional arrivals and a 3.6 percent increase in domestic arrivals compared to November 2010.”

One of the province's major attractions, the V&A Waterfront, registered 1,828,600 visitors in November, a year-on-year increase of 7.2 percent.

Visitor numbers to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens also increased by over seven percent from 58,076 in November 2010, to 62,194 in November 2011.

Visitor numbers to attractions in other parts of the Western Cape increased more dramatically, suggesting that tourists are heading off the beaten track to experience locations further afield.

Winde said this was positive news for smaller towns that rely on the contribution of tourism to boost their economy and create jobs.

In November 2011, the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse received 24.8 percent more visitors when compared with November 2010.

The Worcester Open Air Museum saw a 56.5 percent increase in visitors, and the Garden Route National Parks in Knysna and Tsitsikamma each received over 25 percent more visitors.

Accommodation establishments along the Garden Route have also reported “very high” occupancy rates.

“We are pleased by these early signs that tourism to our province is on the increase. Based on these numbers, we expect that this summer will be a good one for the industry, which will be a relief for those who have suffered through a very hard year,” Winde said.

Tourism contributes more than 10 percent to the province's GDP. - Sapa

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