Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis launched a drive to position Cape Town as a tourism gateway to Antarctica on Monday, 6 February 2023, by taking a day trip from Cape Town to the remote continent.
The mayor was joined by Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities.
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Cape Town is well-positioned to be a tourism gateway to Antarctica, with a short 5-hour direct flight across the Southern Ocean landing on Wolf’s Fang runway in Queen Maud Land.
Tourism in Antarctica is growing rapidly, with more and more tourists visiting this unique destination, Cape Town is the ideal gateway city and should reap the economic benefit. It offers tourists one of the world’s most extraordinary day trips, from the sunshine and beaches of Cape Town to the snow-white continent in just a 5-hour flight.
At the moment, tourists are departing from elsewhere, but Cape Town is the best place to come before heading to Antarctica.
Mayor Hill-Lewis said, ” It was a privilege to witness the Antarctic’s pristine wilderness first-hand via a short flight from Cape Town today. We want more people to choose our city as their preferred gateway to reach international scientific bases, or to experience the continent’s unique sustainable tourism offering. We are launching a new destination marketing campaign with a clear message – Cape Town is the best place to come before you head way down South. Where else can you go from sun and beautiful beaches to Antarctica in just 5 hours?”
“It was also great to learn that so much of the accommodation materials, and much of the equipment and supplies for Antarctica, are made right in Cape Town. Visiting the world’s remote seventh continent is the closest anyone will come to experiencing life on another planet. Except this is our planet, and the only one we’ve got. Sustainable tourism holds not only economic and job creation benefits for our city as a gateway, but also enhances the viability of scientific research on the continent.”
“Cape Town is one of five cities on the rim of the Southern Ocean through which nearly all cargo and personnel bound for Antarctica pass. From west to east, they are Punta Arenas, Chile; Ushuaia, Argentina; Cape Town, South Africa; Hobart, Australia; and Christchurch, New Zealand.”
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Picture: Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis