A view of the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.

• Among Cape Town’s top tourist attractions over the festive season were the V&A Waterfront and Kirstenbosch Gardens.
• The city saw a surge in tourist numbers during the period, according to Cape Town Tourism.
• Other parts of the province also benefitted from a busy season.

The V&A Waterfront topped the list of Cape Town’s most visited tourist attractions this festive season, attracting a record number of more than three million visitors. 

Also topping the list of favourite attractions was Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Chapman’s Peak and Groot Constantia.

On Wednesday, Cape Town Tourism released figures on the Mother City’s tourism performance, saying the city’s attractions saw a significant visitor increase.

CEO Enver Duminy said: “2023 was a year where we shattered all expectations. Our visitor numbers soared to new heights, laying a robust foundation for the exciting journey ahead.”

Mayco Member for Economic Growth James Vos said: “We are witnessing a remarkable resurgence in both domestic and international visitors that comes on the back of wide-ranging campaigns that penetrated multiple key and new markets… It’s exhilarating to see our beloved city buzzing with tourists, affirming Cape Town’s status as a premier global destination.”

Cape Town International Airport saw a 20% increase in domestic visitors from the previous year, with 354 025 arrivals over the festive season.

READ | Spotlight on Cape Town beaches over festive season raises questions over law enforcement

The airport also processed 317 000 two-way international passengers in December, the highest monthly total of passengers on record. 

However, Cape Town was not the only area to benefit from the increased tourism.

Western Cape Finance and Economic Opportunities MEC Mireille Wenger said that George Airport’s passenger numbers grew by 31% year-on-year for December, with over 83 000 people travelling through the airport.

She said that Western Cape regional attractions – including the Harold Porter National Botanical Garden, Cape Agulhas Lighthouse, Arniston Hotel & Spa, !Khwa ttu, Shipwreck Museum and Panthera Africa – had recorded a foot count of nearly 20 000 visitors cumulatively.

“The Harold Porter National Botanical Garden saw a 17.7% year-on-year growth rate in December 2023, and a positive increase in visitor numbers to the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse of 5.1%, Arniston Hotel & Spa of 2.0%, and !Khwa ttu of 3.9% is also welcomed,” she said.

“Without a doubt, the Western Cape is a destination in demand. I would like to congratulate the CTIA team and thank our hospitality and tourism businesses for their incredible effort in giving visitors from across the province, country and indeed the world, such a warm Western Cape welcome.”