Tourism Month is packed with things to see and do

STATEMENT BY THE CITY’S MAYORAL COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND ASSET MANAGEMENT, ALDERMAN JAMES VOS

Today, marks the start of Tourism Month and it is my pleasure to outline the key events the City has planned to participate in and showcase our offerings with our tourism partners including Cape Town Tourism.

Tourism is a key priority sector for the City, being a significant contributor to employment that sustains around 300 000 jobs in total, making it the sector with the highest economic growth and employment potential.

This year’s focus, having recently revised the Tourism Development Framework (TDF), is on creating more community-based offerings. The updated TDF takes a new immersive approach to cultural tourism and aims to change the landscape as a whole by embracing transformation in tourism.

I am truly excited about the future of tourism in Cape Town. We have a month packed with activities that showcase the potential of this sector and what our beautiful city has to offer.

We will kick-off the activities at a school in Mitchells Plain as part of a roadshow with Thando, the mobile visitor information vehicle, the only one of its kind in South Africa. Our aim is to educate scholars on the importance of the tourism sector and encourage them to consider it as a career path. This outreach includes a competition where scholars are encouraged to tell us why they love Cape Town. From these entries, 60 winners will be chosen and taken on a City Sightseeing Red Bus Tour. I will accompany the winners of the school competition on a red bus tour of the city.

Followed by a “Curated Routes” tour of Khayelitsha, showcasing a variety of experiences to several hotel industry representatives from leading hotels in Cape Town. The tour will allow them to meander through the neighbourhood experiencing the area’s diverse activities and interacting with the most inspirational people, including artists, baristas and start-up business owners.

This is to further encourage these partners to promote beyond the big six when they engage with tourists visiting our shores.

I will then visit Table Mountain for an exciting trip on the cablecar celebrating the fact that Table Mountain was recently  named the “Leading Attraction in Africa”.

Voting opens to the public on the 12th of September, for the global title of “World’s Leading Festival & Events Destination,” in this year’s World Travel Award. The Table Mountain Cableway is now aptly in the running for the global title.

I am also very pleased that the Cape Town International Airport is also in the running to be named the world’s leading airport having taken the “Leading Airport in Africa” title.  To vote for these two iconic landmarks visit the World Travel Awards site at www.worldtravelawards.com

I encourage Capetonians to have a ‘love affair’ with this city.  Thando the mobile visitor information vehicle will be strategically parked throughout the city allowing locals to access information about the incredible attractions this city has to offer. Part of my campaign is to promote affordable tourism. There are so many ways to enjoy what Cape Town has to offer without spending a fortune.

Visit https://www.capetown.travel/50-things-to-do-for-under-r50-in-cape-town/ for more information on 50 things to do for under R50.

My immediate priority is to champion the implementation of the TDF that aims to boost our city’s unique places and cultural awareness that will help diversify tourism products that will lead to more community involvement and economic benefits.

The City’s objective is to facilitate sustainable job creation to help establish ‘tourism-preneurs’ while transforming the tourism landscape in Cape Town.