“Connectivity is everything,” says James Vos setting out Cape Town’s tourism growth mission ahead of the new global campaign launch.
Vos, the City’s Mayco member for economic growth, this week addressed tourism and business leaders with a clear message about the city’s growth trajectory and the season ahead. Tourism, Vos said, is one of Cape Town’s strongest economic engines, creating opportunities for accommodation providers, tour operators, transport services, and attractions across the city. But the real driver, he stressed, is connectivity.
“You’ll often find me in a boardroom with airlines making the case for more routes into Cape Town,” he said. “And it’s paying off, we’re now connected to over 31 global destinations, with more than 228 international flights a week in peak season, and more on the way.”
This rollout will reach audiences across all six continents, putting our city’s story in front of millions more potential visitors.
Vos outlined his five-point focus for tourism growth, which includes landing more flights, docking more cruise liners, hosting more conferences and events, strengthening product readiness, and running campaigns that convert interest into bookings.
Looking ahead, Vos shared his excitement for the coming season. “I’m really looking forward to launching the next phase of our ‘This Is Cape Town’ campaign’ he said. “This rollout will reach audiences across all six continents, putting our city’s story in front of millions more potential visitors.” He added that the city is gearing up for a busy season and beyond, ensuring that Cape Town is ready to welcome more visitors than ever.
Economic impact
While attracting visitors is essential, Vos highlighted that preparing the destination is just as important. “A world-class city must offer a world-class experience,” he said, pointing to enhanced safety and security deployments, expanded area cleaning services, and ongoing investment in mobility, water, and energy infrastructure.
The impact is clear: 2.4 million overnight visitors contributed R24.5 billion to Cape Town’s economy last year, supporting more than 106 000 jobs.
“That’s real growth, and we aim to build on it,” Vos said, closing with a reminder of what makes Cape Town stand out: its cuisines, cultures, and vibrant communities, the story the upcoming campaign will proudly share with the world.
