GEORGE NEWS - The number of passengers through George Airport has essentially recovered to pre-pandemic levels, reaching a recovery rate of 99%.
This is according to a media statement on 31 August by the Western Cape Department of Finance and Economic Opportunities that quotes Wesgro’s July 2022 report, a monthly publication providing valuable insights into tourist arrivals and trends in the Western Cape.
Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities Mireille Wenger kicked off her Tourism Month tour in George on Monday 29 August, visiting local tourism attractions and meeting with George Airport management.
She said she was pleased to hear that between January and March this year, an impressive 190 000 passengers passed through the airport. "They have exceeded their capacity and hope to implement expansion plans over the next few years.”
The sustained tourism recovery in international arrivals seen over the last few months, when compared to pre-pandemic levels, has continued and recovery rates at the international terminal at Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) has reached the highest level over the last five months, according to the Wesgro report.
Domestic two-way passengers at CTIA increased from 407 626 in June 2022, to 456 785 in July. While the total of two-way domestic passengers in 2021 was 4,2 million, the number for January to July of this year already stands at 3,4 million, which bodes well for the rest of the year.
“I am very pleased with the continued recovery we are seeing in the tourism and hospitality sector, across many indicators such as air travel, key source markets, hotel occupancy as well as visitors to our many and diverse attractions,” said Wenger.
The natural beauty of the Garden Route is a huge drawcard for visitors.
Recovery in domestic tourism critical
It will be a key focus of the Western Cape's tourism strategy to match the increase in international visitor recovery rates with an increase in domestic tourism recovery rates. "This is critical for the growth and sustainability of the sector. That is why this Tourism Month, our message to South Africans is to explore the remarkable beauty our province has on offer,” said Wenger.
The tourism and hospitality sector contribute significantly to the provincial economy. In 2019, the gross value added by this sector was R15,5-billion and it supported 174 982 direct jobs, which does not consider indirect jobs created across the entire tourism value chain.
"We have everything we need to not only recover to pre-pandemic levels but to far exceed them, boosting our economy and creating many more jobs for residents in the Western Cape," Wenger said.
Key findings in the Wesgro report for July 2022 are:
* July 2022 performance indicated that passengers through CTIA’s international terminal reached a recovery rate of 87% when compared to the same month in 2019. This is the highest recovery rate over the last five months.
* Domestic recovery in July, however, was 68% after remaining on 70 to 80% recovery since the start of the year.
* Passengers through George Airport recovered to 99% when compared to the same month in 2019.
* Year-to-date (as at May 2022), UK ranked as the top source market to Cape Town (via air), followed by Germany, USA, Netherlands and France.
* Europe has regained its position as the Western Cape's top region for tourist arrivals, with six out of the top 10 source markets to Cape Town originating from the region.
* Eight out of the top 10 source markets to Cape Town (via air) already recovered to more than half of the number of tourist arrivals recorded over the same period in 2019.
The historical Montagu Pass with its Old Toll House is among a myriad of interesting places that tourists can visit in the Garden Route.
Hotel occupancy has 84% recovery
* Hotel occupancy for the Western Cape stood at 44,3% in July 2022, representing a recovery rate of 84% when compared with 2019.
* The average daily rate (ADR) for the Western Cape grew to R1 432.76 and RevPAR (revenue per average room) reached R634,13.
* ADR exceeded June 2019 levels, recovering to 111%, and RevPAR reached 93% recovery.
* Footfall at 25 participating attractions recorded a total of 338 695 visitors in July 2022, a 124% year-on-year growth in the number of visitors, and a recovery rate of 83% when compared with July 2019.
* The top five highest year-on-year growth rates in July 2022 were recorded for Robben Island (4 914%), Cango Caves (3 866%), Table Mountain National Park: Boulders (285%), Viljoensdrift River Cruise (259%) and Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (227%).
* 14 out of the 25 attractions exceeded their July 2019 visitor numbers. Remarkable recovery rates of over 200% were achieved at the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (259%), Kogelberg Nature Reserve (238%) and Knysna National Park (200%).
'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'
