Big boost ahead in overseas tourists
New German, Swiss, Austrian flights to Cape Town
CAPE TOWN’S extended air access was central to driving up the growth of international visitors by 27% in the past year, according to Economic Opportunities MEC Alan Winde. He was speaking at the Foreshore this week at the launch of a new route and two route expansions to Cape Town.
From October 29, Lufthansa will fly from Frankfurt to Cape Town five times a week and from November 27, Swiss airline Edelweiss will fly from Zurich to Cape Town three times a week while Austrian Airlines will fly twice a week from Vienna to Cape Town next year from October 27.
Winde congratulated the Lufthansa Group on further growing their offering in Cape Town.
“This is an investment we celebrate because it will create new tourism jobs in our economy. In the upcoming summer season, we are scheduled to see an additional 130 000 international seats flying to our destination, due to the commitment of airlines from all parts of the world to start operating new routes direct to Cape Town, or to expand their current flight schedules.”
Winde said improved air access was identified by the Western Cape government as a key driver in increasing arrivals.
He said 10 new routes were added and 11 route expansions were secured since the launch of the Cape Town Air Access partnership, between the Western Cape government, the City of Cape Town, Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) and Wesgro.
“In 2016, between October and December, we welcomed around 450 000 international tourists, and projections show this figure is set to increase. In the past year we have seen an increase of 27% in international arrivals, and expanded air access is at the centre of driving this growth.”
Winde said the motto of the province was “better together”, which talks about partnerships.
“When you find the space of true partnerships you find real differences happening and I promise you that better together finds itself really working so well. I think of our German partnership and the skills difference that partnership is making, Germany is a key partner in making sure that the special economic zone is going to be something that is going to make such a difference here in everyone’s lives.”
Dr Andre Schulz, Lufthansa Group manager for Southern Africa, said: “We are looking forward to further expanding our presence into southern Africa and. more so, Cape Town.”
Tim Harris, chief executive of Wesgro, said the Frankfurt to Cape Town route expansion was significant. German tourists were the Western Cape’s second largest source market.