Cape Town Air Access, in partnership with Wesgro, has unveiled updated data concerning the economic influence stemming from international travellers journeying to Cape Town and the broader Western Cape region.
These figures illuminate the substantial economic role that air travel plays within the local economy, underscoring its pivotal contribution to job creation, direct tourism spending, GDP expansion and air cargo logistics.
Also read: Cape Town’s attractions to become accessible worldwide via virtual reality
The arrival of 605 000 foreign passengers in 2022 alone injected an impressive R24.3 billion into the Western Cape’s economic landscape, concurrently supporting 10 600 job opportunities.
This equates to R2.1 million in direct tourism spending generated for every 100 international passengers travelling to Cape Town and the Western Cape. Moreover, these same 100 passengers facilitate the movement of R1.4 million worth of air cargo destined for the province.
Wesgro highlighted that these findings emphasise the aviation sector’s role in fostering economic prosperity. The arrival of every 100 passengers reportedly translates into a remarkable injection of R500 000 into the provincial GDP, accomplished through both direct and indirect aviation value chains, ultimately resulting in the creation of two local jobs.
Further analysis of the demographics of these travellers reveals that, out of every 100 passengers, 39 are South African nationals, while the remaining 61 hail from foreign origins. Among the top five markets, the average distribution comprises eight passengers from the United Kingdom, six from Germany, five from the United States, three from the Netherlands and three from Namibia – collectively indicative of our primary source markets for tourism and exports.
Wrenelle Stander, CEO of Wesgro and the official spokesperson for Cape Town Air Access, commented, ‘These latest economic impact assessment results underscore the significance of the Cape Town Air Access project and its role in increasing direct air connectivity, creating a ripple effect on both tourism and the broader economy. With the upcoming peak summer season expected to surpass 2019 passenger levels, it is clear this number will continue to grow in 2023.’
Cape {town} Etc discount: Appreciate the beauty of Cape Town with a 60-minute cruise for R155 (valued at R310). Get it here.
Alderman James Vos, mayoral committee member for economic growth at the City of Cape Town, emphasised, ‘Aviation is a pillar of Cape Town’s destination value offering and fits in perfectly with my goal to help create a tourism-related job in every household in the metro because when we land more flights, multiple industries benefit.’
He continued, ‘As such, the city is proud to be a funding partner of the Air Access initiative, which has boosted the local tourism sector and the wider economy. We look forward to seeing our aviation industry soar to even greater heights in the coming months.’
‘These results re-affirm the aviation sector’s growing significance as a major engine of economic development and its far-reaching contributions to other industries as a catalyst for a spectrum of economic activity,’ explained Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities Mireille Wenger.
‘The incredible work that Cape Town Air Access has been doing since 2015 continues to pay dividends, with the province currently capturing a large share of South Africa’s business and tourism traffic. It’s also worth noting that the passenger and cargo connectivity provided by the Western Cape has positively impacted foreign direct investment and trade, providing even greater access to foreign markets, encouraging exports and increasing competition in the local economy,’ Wenger concluded.
Unleash your inner explorer with these incredible car deals, all priced under 100k. Find car listings here.
Also read:
Table View beachfront upgrade: New walkway, ablutions and parking