Cape Town is in the running for the World’s Leading Festival and Events Destination after it was announced as Africa’s Leading Festival and Event Destination.
The City scooped the award in the category for Africa’s Leading Festival and Events Destination at the 2018 World Travel Awards ceremony in Durban last week.
This accolade has resulted in the City being nominated for the World’s Leading Festival and Events Destination Award alongside London, Montreal, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Dubai, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Danang (Vietnam) and Guayaquil (Ecuador).
Cape Town has become the envy of many global cities as a result of its events portfolio. The City has continually affirmed its place as the events capital of Africa by securing key international and local events over the past five years.
Eight of the signature events supported by the City contribute more than R3 billion to the local economy. Events provide enormous benefit to the local economy in terms of job creation and play a pivotal role in generating visitor expenditure.
Mayor Patricia de Lille and Mayco member for social services JP Smith shared the accolade with some of the event organisers, among them Billy Domingo (Cape Town International Jazz Festival), Elana Meyer (Sanlam Cape Town Marathon), David Bellairs (Cape Town Cycle Tour), Debra Barnes (Two Oceans Marathon), Rafiq Samsodien (Cape Town International Film Festival) and Theo Koopman (Cape Town Summer Market).
De Lille said: “When I heard that we have won this award I (thought to myself), ‘please tell me something we don’t know’. I just know we are the best and we are the best in Africa. The events teams really work hard.”
Domingo said: “Our visitors not only come to Cape Town to enjoy the exceptional music on offer, but also to explore the beauty of the Mother City and its surroundings. It comes as no surprise that our City is once again being acknowledged as the events capital of the world, a title that is greatly deserved.”
Smith said: “The 180 events we have supported and 1277 permits approved by the City have allowed us to achieve this award.
"Such results are not achieved through a one-off effort, but are a culmination of years of developing events capacity and running a competent events department. The City will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen its position as a premium events destination.”