Cape Times

Cape Town nominated for world award

- CHEVON BOOYSEN chevon.booysen@inl.co.za

CAPE Town is in the running for the World’s Leading Festival and Events Destinatio­n after it was announced as Africa’s Leading Festival and Event Destinatio­n.

The City recently scooped the award in the category for “Africa’s Leading Festival and Events Destinatio­n” at the 2018 World Travel Awards ceremony in Durban last week.

This accolade has resulted in the City being nominated for the “World’s Leading Festival and Events Destinatio­n Award” alongside London, Montreal, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Dubai, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Danang (Vietnam) and Guayaquil (Ecuador).

Cape Town has become the envy of many global cities as a result of its events portfolio. The City has continuall­y affirmed its place as the events capital of Africa by securing key internatio­nal and local events over the past five years.

Eight of the signature events supported by the City contribute more than R3 billion to the local economy. Events provide enormous benefit to the local economy in terms of job creation and play a pivotal role in generating visitor expenditur­e.

Mayor Patricia de Lille and mayco member for social services JP Smith shared the accolade with some of the event organisers, among them Billy Domingo (Cape Town Internatio­nal Jazz Festival), Elana Meyer (Sanlam Cape Town Marathon), David Bellairs (Cape Town Cycle Tour), Debra Barnes (Two Oceans Marathon), Rafiq Samsodien (Cape Town Internatio­nal Film Festival) and Theo Koopman (Cape Town Summer Market).

De Lille said:.“When I heard that we have won this award I (thought to myself), ‘please tell me something we don’t know’. I just know we are the best and we are the best in Africa. The events teams really work hard.”

Domingo said: “Our visitors not only come to Cape Town to enjoy the exceptiona­l music on offer, but also to explore the beauty of the Mother City and its surroundin­gs. It comes as no surprise that our City is once again being acknowledg­ed as the events capital of the world, a title that is greatly deserved.”

Smith, said: “The 180 events we have supported and 1 277 permits approved by the City have allowed us to achieve this award. Such results are not achieved through a one-off effort, but are a culminatio­n of years of developing events capacity and running a competent events department. The City will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen its position as a premium events destinatio­n.”

 ?? ANA ARCHIVES ?? CAPE Town is Africa’s Leading Festival and Event Destinatio­n. | more VIeW THe VIDeo WITH AUGmeNTeD reALITY
ANA ARCHIVES CAPE Town is Africa’s Leading Festival and Event Destinatio­n. | more VIeW THe VIDeo WITH AUGmeNTeD reALITY

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