Jazz festival to pour R500m into economy
Concert at CTICC a ‘significant’ boost to local hospitality industry
THE WESTERN Cape will get a welcome economic boost from this weekend’s Cape Town International Jazz Festival, which is set to generate more than R500 million for the province and provide thousands of jobs.
The city will be the place to be when more than 30 000 local and international jazz lovers arrive for the festival at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, bringing with them significant economic spin-offs.
A free concert on Greenmarket Square from 5pm today will provide a foretaste of what to expect. However, tickets for the main events on Friday and Saturday are sold out.
Economic Opportunities MEC Alan Winde said the festival was one of the Western Cape’s signature events and a significant economic driver for the region.
The festival contributed R522m to the Western Cape economy last year and created 2 721 jobs.
“Over 30 000 people attend the festival each year and most are visitors from outside the Western Cape. This offers a significant boost to the local hospitality industry.”
Garreth Bloor, mayco member for Tourism, Events and Economic Develop- ment, said the city was a proud host and supporter of a number of large events that attracted local and international participants and supporters.
“The city has developed a strong track record as an events destination, and continues to attract major global events. The economic spin-offs hold enormous benefits for the city and its residents.”
He said the direct economic impact through visitor and organiser spending was estimated at hundreds of millions of rand for each event, and the city’s support was part of its strategy to attract big events to Cape Town and to position it as the events capital of Africa.
“The ripple effect by way of job creation during and after the events, the increased spending at attractions and across the hospitality industry, coupled with the need for the local associated services that benefit directly from these events are a welcome injection into the local economy.”
And it wasn’t just the money – the global media exposure for the city was phenomenal.
Janine Myburgh, the president of the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said tourism had become a vital job-creating industry for Cape Town and the Western Cape.
The festival had grown since it started in 2000, with attendance growing from 14000 concert goers in 2000 to 34 000 last year.
“The economic importance of the jazz festival is that it is a true international event and attracts a different audience,” said Myburgh.
The festival sees:
● A contribution of R553m to the economy.
● 34 000 festival goers.
● 350 local and international media.
● 22 countries represented.
● 2 723 jobs created.
● Media value worth R199m.
● 40 acts, five stages.