cape town tourism economy

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Tourism in Cape Town - statistics & facts

Post-pandemic recovery of tourism, performance of accommodations in cape town, natural tourist attractions received the most visitors, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in South Africa 2005-2021

Total contribution of travel and tourism to employment in South Africa 2019-2021

Income generated from tourist accommodation in South Africa 2016-2023

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Holiday Activities

Number of visitors to tourists attractions in Cape Town 2020-2022, by attraction

Quarterly number of passenger arrivals at Cape Town International Airport 2021-2022

Accommodation

Occupancy rate of accommodations in Cape Town 2021-2023

Further recommended statistics

Contribution to GDP from the travel and tourism industry GCC 2022, by country

Contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from the travel and tourism industry in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in 2022, by country

Leading European city tourism destinations 2019-2023, by number of bed nights

Leading city tourism destinations in Europe from 2019 to 2023, by number of bed nights (in millions)

IT expenditure in the travel and tourism industry in the UK 2016-2022, by category

Expenditure on IT in the travel and tourism industry in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2016 to 2022, with a forecast to 2023, by category (in million GBP)

Contribution of travel and tourism to GDP of India 2019-2023

Contribution of the travel and tourism sector to the GDP of India from 2019 to 2023, with projections for 2024

Leading European countries in the Travel & Tourism Development Index 2023

Leading European countries in the Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) in 2023

Key information on the global travel agency industry January 2024

Key data on the travel agency industry worldwide as of January 2024

Leading countries in the Americas in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index 2023

Leading countries in the Americas in the Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) in 2023

City destinations with the highest direct travel and tourism GDP worldwide 2022

Leading city tourism destinations worldwide in 2022, ranked by direct contribution of travel and tourism to GDP (in billion U.S. dollars)

Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Greece 2019-2034

Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in Greece in 2019 and 2023, with a forecast for 2024 and 2034 (in billion euros)

Travel and tourism: share of GDP in the EU-27 and the UK 2019-2023, by country

Share of travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in European Union member countries (EU-27) and the United Kingdom (UK) in 2019 and 2023

Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in France 2019-2034

Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in France in 2019 and 2023, with a forecast for 2024 and 2034 (in billion euros)

Leading global travel markets by travel and tourism contribution to GDP 2019-2023

Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in leading travel markets worldwide in 2019 and 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Travel and tourism spending share in European countries 2023, by type

Distribution of travel and tourism spending in European countries in 2023, by type

Forecast city destinations with highest direct travel and tourism GDP worldwide 2032

Forecast leading city tourism destinations worldwide in 2032, ranked by direct contribution of travel and tourism to GDP (in billion U.S. dollars)

Percentage change in bed nights in leading European city tourism destinations 2023

Percentage change in number of bed nights in leading city tourism destinations in Europe in 2023

Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP worldwide 2019-2034

Total contribution of travel and tourism to gross domestic product (GDP) worldwide in 2019 and 2023, with a forecast for 2024 and 2034 (in trillion U.S. dollars)

Global travel and tourism expenditure 2019-2023, by type

Total travel and tourism spending worldwide from 2019 to 2023, by type (in trillion U.S. dollars)

Travel and tourism spending in the GCC 2022, by country

Value of travel and tourism spending in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) 2022, by country (in billion U.S. dollars)

American Customer Satisfaction Index: travel and tourism industries in the U.S. 2024

American Customer Satisfaction Index for the travel and tourism sector in the United States in 2024, by industry

Domestic travel and tourism spending in EU-27 countries and the UK 2019-2023

Domestic travel and tourism expenditure in European Union member countries (EU-27) and the United Kingdom in 2019 and 2023, by country (in billion U.S. dollars)

Share of tourism employees in Portugal 2022, by industry

Distribution of employees in the travel and tourism sector in Portugal in 2022, by industry

Number of jobs in travel and tourism sector in India FY 2014-2024

Number of direct and indirect jobs in the travel and tourism sector across India from financial year 2014 to 2023, with projection for 2024 (in millions)

HICP inflation rate of travel and tourism services in the EU 2024

Harmonized index of consumer prices (HICP) inflation rate of travel and tourism services in the European Union (EU-27) in June 2024, by industry

Tourism spending in Japan 2023, by travel type

Value of tourism expenditure in Japan in 2023, by type of travel (in trillion Japanese yen)

Tourism spending distribution in Japan 2023, by travel type

Distribution of tourism expenditure in Japan in 2023, by type of travel

Contribution of the tourism industry to GDP Indonesia 2016-2021

Contribution of the tourism industry to the gross domestic product (GDP) in Indonesia from 2016 to 2021

Change in the travel price index in the U.S. June 2024, by industry

Percentage change in the travel price index in the United States in June 2024, by industry

Tourism industry direct contribution as share of GDP Malaysia 2013-2022

Direct contribution of the tourism industry as a share of the gross domestic product (GDP) in Malaysia from 2013 to 2022

Contribution of China's travel and tourism industry to GDP 2014-2023

Travel and tourism industry's share of GDP in China from 2014 to 2022 with a forecast for 2023, by direct and total contribution

Change of travel and tourism industry's contribution to GDP in China 2012-2023

Growth of travel and tourism industry's contribution to GDP in China from 2012 to 2022 with a forecast for 2023

Leading global countries in the Travel & Tourism Development Index 2023

Leading countries in the Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) worldwide in 2023

Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in France 2019-2034

Total contribution of travel and tourism to employment in France in 2019 and 2023, with a forecast for 2024 and 2034 (in million jobs)

Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Greece 2019-2034

Total contribution of travel and tourism to employment in Greece in 2019 and 2023, with a forecast for 2024 and 2034 (in million jobs)

Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in France 2019-2023, by tourist type

Distribution of travel and tourism spending in France in 2019 and 2023, by type of tourist

Distribution of travel and tourism expenditure in France 2019-2023, by type

Distribution of travel and tourism spending in France in 2019 and 2023, by type

Tourism expenditures Philippines 2023, by travel type

Total value of tourism expenditures in the Philippines in 2023, by type of travel (in billion Philippine pesos)

Travel and tourism: share of global GDP 2019-2034

Share of travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP worldwide in 2019 and 2023, with a forecast for 2024 and 2034

COVID-19: job loss in travel and tourism worldwide 2020-2022, by region

Employment loss in travel and tourism due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic worldwide from 2020 to 2022, by region (in millions)

GDP share generated by travel and tourism in Italy 2019-2023

Share of travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Italy in 2019 and 2023, with a forecast for 2024 and 2034

Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Italy 2019-2034

Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in Italy in 2019 and 2023, with a forecast for 2024 and 2034 (in billion euros)

Travel and tourism employment worldwide 2019-2034

Number of travel and tourism jobs worldwide from 2019 to 2023, with a forecast for 2024 and 2034 (in millions)

Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Europe 2019-2034

Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in Europe in 2019 and 2023, with a forecast for 2024 and 2034 (in trillion euros)

Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Germany 2019-2034

Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in Germany in 2019 and 2023, with a forecast for 2024 and 2034 (in billion euros)

Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Europe 2019-2034

Total contribution of travel and tourism to employment in Europe in 2019 and 2023, with a forecast for 2024 and 2034 (in million jobs)

Global travel and tourism expenditure 2019-2023, by tourist type

Total travel and tourism spending worldwide from 2019 to 2023, by type of tourist (in trillion U.S. dollars)

Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Germany 2019-2034

Total contribution of travel and tourism to employment in Germany in 2019 and 2023, with a forecast for 2024 and 2034 (in million jobs)

Travel operators transaction amount from domestic tourism in Japan 2015-2023

Transaction value of travel agencies from domestic tourism in Japan from 2015 to 2023 (in trillion Japanese yen)

Share of tourism spending in leading travel markets worldwide 2023, by type

Distribution of leisure and business travel spending in leading travel markets worldwide in 2023

Gross value added of the tourism industry Philippines 2023, by type

Gross value added generated from the tourism industry in the Philippines in 2023, by type (in billion Philippine pesos)

Employment in the tourism industry Philippines 2023, by sector

Total number of people employed in the tourism industry in the Philippines in 2023, by sector (in 1,000s)

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Cape Town Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Factsheet

Discover the total economic contribution that the Travel & Tourism sector brings to Cape Town and the world in this data-rich, two-page factsheet.

Discover the total economic contribution that the Travel & Tourism sector brings to the Cape Town’s economies and to the world in this data-rich, two-page factsheet.

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Factsheet details

This factsheet highlights the importance of Travel & Tourism to Cape Town across many metrics, and features details such as:

• Contribution of the sector to overall GDP and employment
• Comparisons between 2019 and 2023
• Forecasts for 2024 and 2034
• International and domestic visitor spending
• Proportion of leisure vs business spending
• Top 5 inbound and outbound markets

This factsheet highlights the importance of Travel & Tourism to the Cape Town across many metrics, and features details such as:

• Contribution of the sector to overall GDP and employment in the group and globally
• Contribution of the sector to overall GDP and employment in the region and globally

This factsheet highlights the importance of T&T to this city across many metrics, and features details such as:

• Contribution of the sector to overall GDP and employment in the city
• Comparisons between 2019, 2020 and 2021, plus 2022 forecast
• Proportion of the T&T at city level towards overall T&T contribution at a country level
• Top 5 inbound source markets

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Cape Town Tourism Unveils Revolutionary ‘Global’ Strategy After Record-Shattering 2023

In the wake of a record-breaking year, Cape Town Tourism announces a ground-breaking strategy for 2024, promising to revolutionise the global travel landscape. The City’s Official Destination Marketing and Management Organisation (DMO) is poised to leverage its historic success, transcending traditional boundaries through its innovative ‘Glocal’ initiative.

A Year Of Unprecedented Achievements

“2023 was a year where we shattered all expectations,” reflects Enver Duminy, CEO of Cape Town Tourism. “Our visitor numbers soared to new heights, laying a robust foundation for the exciting journey ahead. As we step into 2024, we’re not just riding on past successes; we’re catapulting into a future where Cape Town becomes synonymous with pioneering tourism and enriching lives. Our city is already seen as a global destination of choice. In fact, Cape Town was just named the Second Best City in the World by Time Out Magazine, so 2024 is off to a great start!”

Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, said the robust recovery of Cape Town’s tourism sector was a direct result of the City’s partnerships and marketing programmes. “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.

“Additionally, our funding of and work with partners such as Air Access and Cruise Cape Town (both administered by Wesgro) and Cape Town Tourism saw us increase flights, cruise ships and city-to-city connections that helped to land more visitors. It’s exhilarating to see our beloved city buzzing with tourists, affirming Cape Town’s status as a premier global destination.”

Reflecting On A Successful 2023

Cape Town International Airport was bustling in December 2023, with a 20% increase in domestic visitors from the previous year, totalling 354 025 arrivals. The number of arrivals for the month was 518 190, a 19% increase from 2022.

Mark Maclean, regional general manager at Cape Town International Airport, expressed his satisfaction with the passenger growth, highlighting the positive impact on tourism and trade. “We are very pleased with the passenger growth and thank all visitors for their cooperation and support when visiting the airport. As we focus on the coming weeks and the remainder of the peak season, we anticipate continued high passenger volumes as our visitors enjoy the summer.”

The V&A Waterfront also had a record-breaking season in 2023, with significant increases in visits and trade from the previous year. It says significant investments in food and retail offerings, hotels, and attractions, including the newly launched Time Out Market Cape Town and the relaunched Cape Wheel, contributed to this success.

David Green, CEO of the Waterfront, says, “The Waterfront has had its strongest festive season yet, with a record number of visitors and sales, living up to our billing as the country’s leading tourist destination and a major contributor to the city’s economic growth. We had over 3 million visits from locals, other South Africans, as well as many international tourists, who enjoyed the best of the city in our safe and vibrant neighbourhood. Our year-on-year visitor numbers climbed 25% from 2022, and we recorded bumper retail sales of R1.2 billion, up 16% from 2022. Additionally, we hosted our biggest NYE event to date, with some 80 000 attendees. We continue to see strong growth prospects for the Waterfront, with tourism offering much needed job creation, and economic growth within the City and Province.”

Despite some closures due to weather and fires, Cape Town’s attractions saw a significant visitor increase. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden reported a 6% increase when compared to December 2022, welcoming 112 400 visitors. Chapman’s Peak Drive saw a 15% recovery compared to 2022, with 111 538 visitors. Groot Constantia, the oldest wine estate in South Africa, welcomed 72 476 visitors, a remarkable 55% increase from 2022. Table Mountain and Two Oceans Aquarium also reported substantial foot traffic, with 106 959 and 81 000 visitors, respectively.

Alderman Vos emphasised the transformative power of tourism in creating jobs and supporting the local economy. “Our goal is to create a tourism-related job in every household in Cape Town. This speaks to our mission under the banner of our Responsible Tourism charter which we are working on issuing this year to local industry operators. Responsible Tourism is about crafting and nurturing places that are not only captivating to visit but also enriching for those who call them home. This industry is not just about attracting visitors; it’s about fostering an ecosystem that supports our local businesses and communities, driving forward our city’s prosperity.”

A Strong Show Of Local Support

Cape Town Tourism’s latest figures reveal a robust domestic travel market, with a significant percentage of South Africans choosing to explore their backyard. Intent to travel domestically was at a high of 94%, with an equal take-up rate, indicating that nearly all those who made local holiday plans followed through on those intentions.

“I had such a fun time experiencing everything Cape Town has to offer this December. The weather was fantastic, and even though it was a bit congested at times, we still got to experience everything we wanted. There really is no other place like Cape Town. I wish I could have stayed a bit longer,” said Ciali Browne from Pretoria.

Local Triumphs Pave the Way for Global Alliances

Following the unprecedented success of 2023, Cape Town Tourism is now actively pursuing groundbreaking initiatives to elevate the region’s global presence. The DMO is strategically engaged in forging a transformative global partnership with prominent world cities, marking a pioneering collaboration that promises to extend the international allure of Cape Town.

This venture will redefine the partnership landscape, setting a new standard for cross-city collaboration. The DMO says it continues to build on the triumphs of the past year by committing to fostering relationships that go beyond borders and contribute to the sustained growth and prosperity of Cape Town as a global destination.

Duminy adds, “2024 is the year we embark on our groundbreaking ‘Glocal’ initiative, uniting VisitBerlin, New York City Tourism + Conventions, and Cape Town Tourism in a historic collaboration that transcends borders. We are propelling destination marketing and collaboration into uncharted territories.

This collaboration marks a milestone as three competitive DMOs join forces to showcase our individuality while highlighting our common bonds. We’re weaving together our history and stories of freedom to send a powerful message globally.”

Cape Town Businesses Forecast a Fruitful 2024

The Cape Town Tourism Membership Survey for 2023, reveals the expectations of Cape Town’s tourism businesses, painting a picture of resilience and optimism for 2024.

The survey revealed that almost all businesses anticipate improved 2024 performance compared to last year. For January 2024, 87% of respondents expect a better or much better performance, with similar expectations for February and March at 83% and 82%, respectively.

Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, said, “The remarkable recovery of our tourism sector is a testament to our stakeholders’ resilience and hard work and the attractiveness of Cape Town as a global destination. We are grateful for the local and international support and the dedication of our tourism industry and look forward to building on this success to ensure that Cape Town remains a haven for generations of travellers, irrespective of ability or background, offering a tapestry of nature, cultures, and experiences that are beyond compare.”

Join the Journey: Cape Town Awaits Your Arrival in 2024!

“Looking forward to 2024, we’re seeing good signs that the number of tourists coming to Cape Town will keep growing. Our estimates, based on how well we did in 2023 and considering a slow economic growth, suggest a modest increase in visitor numbers by up to 3%. But if we follow the trends we saw last year, we could see a bigger jump — with  up to 8% more international tourists and 11% more South African visitors compared to last year. This could mean tourists will spend about R11.6 billion during our traditional international peak season from January to April,” concludes Vos.

Enver Duminy sums it up: “We’re expecting 2024 to be another great year with more people flying in and booking places to stay. South Africans are still excited about travelling around the country despite the cost of living going up. We’re thankful for everyone who has helped make tourism across Cape Town a success. We’ll keep making sure visitors have an amazing time so that Cape Town stays at the top of the list for local and overseas travellers.”

Embark on a memorable adventure and be a part of Cape Town’s vibrant journey in 2024.

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July 22, 2024

This Is Cape Town

Top 20 events.

Population to date

What is contributing to Cape Town’s tourism surge?

Tourism surge.

According to  James Vos , City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth and Tourism, the substantial increase in Cape Town’s tourism in the past year can be attributed to a multifaceted approach. The City, in collaboration with its partners, executes marketing campaigns that emphasise Cape Town’s diverse destination offerings. Recent campaigns were tailored to appeal to specific audiences and groups seeking experiences related to luxury, adventure, family and friends, nightlife, culture, sport, and more. Vos explains that authenticity in marketing was a top priority to provide travellers with a genuine sense of the incredible places, people, and products on offer in Cape Town. Initiatives such as Air Access, Cruise Cape Town, and the Cape Town and Western Cape Convention Bureau played a crucial role in securing more flights, cruise ship visits, and events and conferences in the city.

CREATING TOURISM-RELATED JOBS IN EVERY CAPE TOWN HOUSEHOLD

Vos has a mission to see tourism-related jobs in every Cape Town household. The goal is driven by the understanding that tourism is a connective tissue for investment and employment opportunities.

He elaborates that tourism acts as the gateway through which local cuisine, fashion, and other distinctly local aspects become global trends. According to him it also attracts investors who, while visiting Cape Town, recognise the potential to establish businesses in the city’s thriving industries.

THIS MISSION’S SUCCESS IS UNDERPINNED BY FIVE KEY ELEMENTS:

• Expanding flight routes from various source markets to further boost the inflow of tourists.
• Increasing cruise travel from additional destinations, thereby diversifying the city’s tourism offerings.
• Attracting more events and conferences, encouraging delegates to book local accommodations and services during their stays.
• Supporting tourism-connected businesses by developing high-quality, authentic, and innovative products and services.
• Continuously launching marketing campaigns that showcase the diversity of Cape Town’s destination products to drive bookings.

CAPE TOWN: A TOP DESTINATION ON THE GLOBAL TOURISM MAP

The tourism boom experienced by Cape Town in 2023 and the first three months of 2024 is representative of the City’s strategic destination marketing initiatives. The city’s robust tourism industry has firmly bounced back to its pre-pandemic successes, now with more innovative approaches and enhanced flexibility to adapt to changing global markets than ever before.

While Vos’s ambitious goal to see tourism-related jobs in every household, it also underscores the role of tourism as a catalyst for economic growth and investment opportunities. He emphasises that with the focus on expanding flight routes, diversifying cruise travel, attracting events, supporting local businesses, and continuous innovative marketing, Cape Town is positioned to maintain its status as a top destination on the global tourism map.

AIR TRAVEL:

• Cape Town saw a record-breaking 2.8 million two-way international air travellers in 2023. And in the first quarter of 2024, Cape Town experienced a significant uptick in tourist arrivals via air travel, with a notable 16% increase compared to the previous year, amounting to 336,268 visitors.
• Aviation brought R24 billion and 10,600-plus jobs into the Cape in 2022.
• Saw around 215 international flights land every week during the summer of 2023, with approximately 31,000 passengers per day passing through the airport.
• Cape Town International Airport’s international terminal processed over 317,000 two-way travellers in December, setting a record.
• R1.9 billion in foreign tourism spending ignited the Western Cape economy in December 2023.
• The year soared to new heights, with 2.8 million international passengers and a decade-long doubling trend.
• Meanwhile the domestic terminal processed 6 884 252 two-way passengers in 2023, almost a million more than the previous year.

LOOKING AHEAD

• Signifying Cape Town’s growing strength as a cruise destination, two of the iconic Cunard Queens, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, made a simultaneous appearance at the Port of Cape Town in April 2024. This is a first in African maritime history.
• In the 2023/2024 cruise season, Cape Town welcomed about 75 ships with almost 130,000 passengers and crew. This is notable for the fact that the cruise industry has emerged as a significant contributor to the regional economy, with the 2022/23 season alone generating R1.2 billion. In addition, for every 30 arriving cruise passengers, one full-time job is created in the Cape.
• Passenger growth at Cape Town International Airport maintains its positive trend following the first quarter of 2024, with both the domestic and international passenger terminals recording positive year-on-year growth in March.
• The domestic terminal recorded an 11% year-on-year growth for March, with over 642 000 two-way passengers processed. The international terminal saw a 17% year-on-year growth in March, with over 318 000 two-way international passengers travelling through the terminal.
• CTIA wins at Skytrax: For the ninth consecutive year, CTIA has been crowned the Best Airport in Africa, and for the fourth consecutive year, it has also bagged the Best Airport Staff in Africa award! Through innovative practices and partnerships, we can take tourism in Cape Town to even greater heights, unlocking opportunity and economic access for so many more people and communities in the city. Let’s go!

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What the tourism sector can learn from Cape Town’s drought

Ecotourism Management Lecturer, Vaal University of Technology

Research Fellow, University of South Africa

Full Professor and Exxaro Chair in Business & Climate Change, University of South Africa

Disclosure statement

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

University of South Africa provides funding as a partner of The Conversation AFRICA.

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Extreme weather events have been topical in the southern African region and beyond in the past decade or so. Prior to tropical cyclones Idai and Kenneth , no major extreme weather event had attracted such international media attention as the Cape Town drought popularly dubbed Day Zero did. Day Zero was the day the taps of Cape Town were anticipated to run dry .

Extreme droughts have been on the increase in southern Africa with far-reaching socioeconomic and environmental implications for the region. Assessing and documenting the impact of these extreme droughts has been lagging behind, a situation that has been bemoaned by academics and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change .

To fill some of the gap, our study examined the causes and effects of climate change-induced droughts on the tourism industry in the Western Cape, a regional and continental tourism hub. Tourism is an important economic sector to Cape Town, and South Africa at large. The Western Cape attracted around 1.7 million international tourists in 2018 and generated R16.3 billion (about US$985 million) in foreign spending in 2019.

Our research found that the drought in Cape Town was caused by both natural and human (anthropogenic) drivers of climate change. This was compounded by increasing population and increased water demand in the province and Cape Town, in particular.

How the drought hit the tourism sector

The 2015 to 2018 drought was one of the longest and the worst to have affected Cape Town and the region in recent times. Rainfall declined from an annual average of about 493mm in 1993 to about 149mm per year in 2017 . The drought turned into a crisis , given the extent of water scarcity, and received widespread media attention.

The politics around the issue worsened the situation. Given that the Western Cape is run by the country’s opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, there were delays over declaring the water situation in the province a national disaster. This limited the deployment of resources to the city crippling its response to the disaster. Declaring the drought as a disaster would’ve eased procurement processes and provided resources needed to deal with it. There were constant spats about the cause of the disaster, the extent and who was responsible for managing it.

International media coverage and the phrase “Day Zero water crisis” painted a bleak picture of the situation. This image of Cape Town as a city in crisis damaged perceptions of the destination. This resulted in tourists postponing or cancelling travel to what was one of the most popular destinations in the world.

Our study found that there was a decline between 1.3% and 12.6% on month on month tourism arrivals to the province in 2017 and 2018 at the peak of the drought. This resulted in a decline in hotel occupancy and tourist arrivals at the city’s most popular tourism sites such as V&A Waterfront , Table Mountain Cableway , Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden , Cape Point and other destinations.

The decline in arrivals severely undermined revenue generation for most tourism businesses and for the city, national parks and other private nature reserves in the area. Average tourist spend by international tourist declined by 30% between 2017 and 2018. The decline in arrivals on the other hand, in a way saved the situation by reducing water demand as the water consumption for the city declined by 50%.

We found that the impact on tourism businesses was disproportionate, with smaller and lower graded tourism accommodation establishments being worst affected. Four and five-star accommodation establishments weren’t as affected.

This could be attributed to perceived capacity to provide water from alternative sources to ensure a comfortable stay by guests. Our study found that some top hotels had invested in water harvesting technologies which allowed them to operate without reliance on city water supply.

Collaborations

The city of Cape Town and tourism industry stakeholders led by WesGRO – the Western Cape’s official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency – provided leadership that ensured the city adopted measures to reduce water use to avoid Day Zero. The public and private partnership proved crucial in ensuring water sustainability.

Universities also played a crucial role in terms of research, innovation and agenda setting . The tourism sector adopted measures, amongst them a well-coordinated campaign to encourage tourists to use less water, retrofitting of bathrooms to ensure water saving, investment into water harvesting technologies and investment in ocean water harvesting technologies.

As seen in the graph, water levels have improved since the cancellation of Day Zero. Cape Town and the Western Cape province must continue championing and ensuring water efficiency, putting in place measures to reduce water demand by every economic sector and build water resilience. Given that the drought is over, for now, there’s a need to use the drought levies that were instituted to put in place infrastructure that augments current water supply to build a water resilient city.

As we found in our study, in the event of future droughts, the use of terms and alarmist messages that may scare away investors and tourists should be avoided. The Day Zero experience is not a once-off event. As long as climate change continues, there are many other day zeros on the way in many cities around the world.

• Climate change
• Water demand
• Southern Africa
• Cape Town drought

Professor of Indigenous Cultural and Creative Industries (Identified)

Communications Director

Associate Director, Post-Award, RGCF

University Relations Manager

2024 Vice-Chancellor's Research Fellowships

Deputy Minister B Swarts: welcoming speech at ISWA World Congress

International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) World Congress,  16 September 2024, Cape Town, South Africa

Alderman Grant Twigg, President of the International Solid Waste Association; Mr Carlos Silva Filho, President of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa and Congress Chair, Mpendulo Ginindza, Presidents of the ISWA Regional Chapters; UN Representatives, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The hosting of the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) World Congress 2024, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre mark the first time this prestigious world congress on waste management is held on the African continent. Well done to the Local Organising Committee, the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA) and my departmental officials for making this a reality.

It is an honour and privilege for me to be addressing you during this prestigious occasion. I am here also because Cabinet has approved the hosting of the International Solid Waste World Congress 2024, starting today and hence on behalf of the President of the Republic of South Africa Mr Cyril Ramaphosa his Cabinet in the Government of National Unity, I would like to officially welcome you to South Africa, and I believe you will have an opportunity to see the beauty of our country, starting where we are in Cape Town, in the Western Cape Province. I know, in addition to witnessing the natural beauty that you will be able to see as part of your visits in Cape Town, you will also be visiting a number of facilities that will be showcasing our experiences and practices in South Africa as far as waste management and circular economy is concerned. I will also be visiting one of the facilities this week as part of this Recycling Week.

This ISWA 2024 World Congress has brought together the waste professionals from around the world to network and to share current thinking in waste management that promote circular economy best practices. In addition, to producing leading expert reports and technical studies, you will be looking forward to publishing in the scientific journals such as the "Waste Management and Research."

The ISWA World Congress, has been held in a different country each year, since 1972, and provided a platform for waste professionals to share knowledge among their peers. South Africa as a national member of ISWA through the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA), has attended and presented at the ISWA World Congress for a number of years now, including representatives from the government of South Africa.

I am aware that the Theme for this year's ISWA World Congress is "waste to wealth: solutions for a sustainable future" and following on to the theme you will be participating on various technical discussions in line with the thematic areas identified for the ISWA Congress 2024.

The department is arranging two sessions at the ISWA World Congress 2024 which are the government to government (G to G) session and the extended producer responsibility session. The government-to-government session will also reflect on the key matters with waste management in preparation for South Africa's G20 Presidency in 2025.

In July 2019, the department and the Institute of Waste Management in Southern Africa entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for strategic collaboration on waste management and circular economy best practices. It is anticipated that the renewal and signing of the new MoU between the department and the institute will take place in due course.

The MoU provides for collaboration on matters relating to amongst others, the collaboration in the participation of South Africa in International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) activities (conferences, seminars, webinars, capacity building, etc.). The MoU is taking forward the implementation of the National Waste Management Strategy, which Cabinet approved in 2020. Furthermore, the Circular Economy Action Plan is being developed this financial year and the Department is looking at working with all stakeholders in taking this forward. The implementation of the Circular Economy Action Plan would require collaboration with strategic partners locally and abroad.

The hosting of this international event is viewed as a significant economic opportunity, expected to boost tourism in the region and increase investment in the waste management sector within South Africa and its neighbouring countries as part of the African Union (AU). This event holds great importance as it allows local experts to gain insights from international expertise while showcasing their knowledge to a global audience.

Additionally, this will create new opportunities for many waste management practitioners. More especially, the municipalities and the waste management sector will have an opportunity to showcase their waste management practices and learn from others.

My department will share our experiences on the implementation of polluter pay principle within our national legislation. The Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations are a critical element of the considerations that are part of the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, currently being negotiated.

There are various activities planned aligned to the fight against plastics pollution and marine litter. South Africa is increasing recycling capacity for the management of plastic waste and eliminate plastic pollution. South Africa is also implementing product design regulations on prioritised plastic products. Recyclate content is a regulated requirement for prioritised plastic products as part of improving circularity.

South Africa supports evidence-based policy making and implementation. The International Solid Waste Association should remain resolute, in thought leadership by conducting specialists studies that will assist and inform negotiating positions at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution and including the environment.

The fiscus is under a lot of pressure here in South Africa and across many other countries and thus the role of the private sector in reducing the burden and shouldering some of the responsibility is key. Political will and commitment has seen the translation of the polluter pay principle into operational policies that create a conducive environment for private sector investment in waste management.

Furthermore, in promoting the circular economy agenda, government-to-government (G to G) session will deliberate on countries experiences and share best practices as part of Day 3 of the Congress. We are looking at the G to G assisting us as part of South Africa's preparations for the G 20 Presidency, informed by the engagements that are taking place at this ISWA World Congress.

One of the critical priorities of the Government of National Unity is job creation. I am grateful to the ISWA SMMEs Committee for supporting the small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) with registration fees for attending the ISWA World Congress 2024. I understand that this is also made possible by the collaboration between my department, and the Department of Small Business Development and SEDA. Thank you very much to the sponsors' through whom we have more than 37 SMMEs sponsored to attend by the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa, the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) through their Agency called Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), PETCO (one of the producer responsibility organisations) and other strategic partners. South Africa is looking forward to the investments and cooperation partnerships that will contribute to job creation for our people as part of managing waste.

We are grappling with implications brought about, by amongst others, pollution and emissions by the waste sector. On the 23 July 2024, President Ramaphosa signed into law, the Climate Change Act. The Climate Change Act, as endorsed by the President, enables the alignment of policies that influence South Africa's climate change response, to ensure that South Africa's transition to a low carbon and climate resilient economy and society is not constrained by policy contradictions.

The law also sets out to enhance South Africa's ability and capacity over time to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build climate resilience, while reducing the risk of job losses, and promoting opportunities for new job opportunities in the emerging green and circular economy.

South Africa is celebrating 30 years of democracy. One of the key cornerstone of this democracy is the enjoyment of basic human rights enshrined in the Constitution affirming the environment that is not harmful to health or wellbeing and protection of the environment. It was only in 2022 when the United Nations General Assembly affirmed a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as a human right.

It has also been 30 years since the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the 16th of September, the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, commemorating the date of the signing, in 1987, of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Hence, today we are also celebrating the International Day of Ozone Layer protection. South Africa is on course regarding the reduction of ozone depleting substances and the financial and technical support provided by Multilateral Fund cannot go unappreciated.

It is for this reason that South Africa remains resolute that stand- alone financial mechanisms should be part of new multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) as we have seen the "healing" of the ozone layer at an accelerated pace compared to other MEAs that do not have dedicated financial mechanisms.

I wish you all the best in your deliberations and do follow up on the strategic partnerships that will start as part of this recycling week.

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Peter Mbelengwa Mobile: 082 611 8197 E-mail: [email protected]