As the summer travel season approaches, the Western Cape is anticipating the highest-ever number of international flight seats.
Mireille Wenger, the MEC for finance and economic opportunities, announced on Sunday that Cape Town International Airport is anticipating a 25% increase in seat capacity for the summer of 2023/24 compared to last year, taking the total number of inbound international seats over the one-million mark for the first time.
Also read: Cape Town Airport passenger traffic exceeds pre-pandemic levels by 107%
Wenger expressed satisfaction with the collaborative efforts between the private and public sectors over the past year, noting that partnerships have led to the implementation of effective strategies aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of tourists.
‘Over the 2023/24 season, 250 tourism monitors will be deployed across the Western Cape to identify hotspots and will be trained and equipped with mobile apps to link them to critical security services,’ she said.
Both the Department of Economic Development and Tourism and Cape Town Tourism are introducing initiatives designed to aid tourists in emergency situations, ensuring immediate professional support is available when needed.
Cape {town} Etc discount: Appreciate the beauty of Cape Town with a 60-minute cruise for R155 (valued at R310). Get it here.
Wenger also revealed that the Department of Tourism has gained assurance from the South African Police Service (SAPS) to have police reservists on hand during the summer months to further enhance tourist safety.
Focusing on the longer term, Wenger stressed the importance of simplifying the travel process for international tourists. She expressed her intent to collaborate with national government agencies to resolve existing bottlenecks.
‘I am determined to work with our national government partners to fix the inefficiencies. I therefore welcome the commitment from the Department of Home Affairs that the long-overdue Remote or Digital Nomad Visa will be live by the end of March 2024,’ the MEC said.
Unleash your inner explorer with these incredible car deals, all priced under R100 000. Find car listings here.
Also read:
Picture: Tobias Reich / Unsplash