World Tourism Day: Western Cape celebrates 191 international flights into Cape Town International Airport per week
To mark World Tourism Day, the Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger, was invited to address attendees at the National Government’s World Tourism Day celebrations, held at the Ecology Lifestyle Estate in Bot River, in the Overberg District Municipality, Western Cape
“All indications point to an impressive upcoming summer season in Cape Town and the Western Cape. Today, I am overjoyed at the news that 184 international flights per week are expected between November 2022 and the end of December 2022, increasing to 191 fights per week between January 2023 and March 2023.” announced Minister Wenger.
“This amounts to roughly 1.56 million two-way seats, with the potential to generate tourism spend of an estimated R7.9 billion. This is incredible news for the Western Cape, and this is incredible news for South Africa as well.”
She continued: “I see the impressive increase of flights to Cape Town as a cause for confidence and hope because, when we connect with one another, we create opportunities for progress and prosperity, that gives us all hope of moving from recovery to growth.”
Addressing barriers that stand in the way of this growth is a top priority for the provincial government, and its partners. Minister Wenger said: “I have been in conversation with the management of the Cape Town International Airport, and they have indicated that the current fuel shortages experienced at the airport are short term and not systemic, and that extra fuel storage capacity is being brought online at CTIA ahead of the tourism peak season.”
Concluding her address, Minister Wenger noted that there is still such work to do to unleash the full potential of the tourism sector.
“When we work together to leverage the combined impact of different levels of government, and the private sector, we can move quicker, more effectively, and with greater success. We are committed to working with national government and the private sector to achieve these goals, so we can grow the tourism for the benefit of the residents of the Western Cape and South Africa,” concluded Minister Wenger.
Source: Government of South Africa