Cape Town beats Johannesburg as South Africa tourism rebounds
South Africa’s crippled tourism sector, which came close to total collapse during the height of the Covid pandemic in 2020 and 2021 as a result of lockdowns and travel bans, is recovering — but very unevenly.
Cape Town, which along with Johannesburg and Durban on the Indian Ocean coast, has always been in the top three for visitor arrivals, has emerged from the global travel and tourism disruptions of the past nearly four years as the top destination for foreign tourists.
During the current season, which is now at its peak, Cape Town has seen more visitors than ever before, surpassing pre-Covid levels for the first time and returning to the growth trajectory it has enjoyed since the dawn of democracy in South Africa in 1994.
According to tourism officials in the “Mother City”, as Cape Town is often called, there is unprecedented interest from European visitors in particular, but also from the Far East, particularly China, as well as other parts of Africa, notably the East African region.
The increase in domestic and international flights to Cape Town has boosted arrivals, with 31,000 passengers a day passing through the city’s airport due to the increased number of domestic and international flights now available.
More direct flights, especially to and from East Africa, have helped to increase the number of African visitors to Cape Town. A tourism-oriented infrastructure, aided by South Africa’s weakened currency, which has made the country much cheaper for dollar and euro holders, has also improved the city’s overall appeal.
This has helped to push Cape Town into the ‘Triple A’ category in terms of what it has to offer visitors, with the famous Cape Winelands on its doorstep and as a gateway to some of the country’s many high-end private game reserves in the hinterland.
Cape Town’s outstanding conference and exhibition facilities, as well as its ability to host major international sporting events, also help it to shine as a destination.
A recent example was the 2023 Netball World Cup, the four-yearly premier international competition for the sport, which was held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in July and August last year — a first for the sport in Africa.
But Cape Town’s growing international popularity – also among South Africans, especially from the Johannesburg metropolitan area – has come at the expense of other previously popular tourist destinations, such as coastal cities like Nelson Mandela Bay in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal’s famous Durban, with its warm waters, balmy weather and numerous once-pristine sandy beaches.
Today, these places have been largely abandoned by foreigners, who instead tend to begin or end their visits to far-flung South Africa in the Mother City, which is widely regarded as one of the most visually attractive locations in the world.
Indeed, the city is also emerging as a hub for film and television production, with a dedicated film set and production facility just 20km from the city centre, and a host of experienced local media professionals, offering producers easy options and great visual backdrops, all at relatively low cost.
Increasingly cut out of the international tourism business, Durban, Johannesburg and other locations have instead shifted their post-Covid focus to attracting local tourism as a replacement, which in Durban’s case is partially working but is also much less lucrative.
This pattern appears to be similar to other regions, including East Africa, which before the pandemic had become increasingly dependent on tourism as a major contributor to the local economy.
Part of what is deterring visitors to Johannesburg in particular is the country’s ongoing struggle with high levels of crime.
A significant number of foreign — and even local — visitors have been targeted by criminal gangs on arrival for mugging, car hijacking or armed robbery, further eroding Johannesburg’s reputation and appeal.
Parts of Johannesburg’s inner city have been redeveloped, but other areas are in deep urban decay and are particularly dangerous for non-locals.
The sprawling metropolis was once the usual first stop for some foreigners who came to soak up the atmosphere, Afro-jazz music and unique cuisine of Soweto’s ‘township culture’, as well as to visit notable sites such as Nelson Mandela’s home or the Cradle of Humankind, a Unesco palaeoanthropological World Heritage Site about 50km north-west of Johannesburg, where extraordinary early hominid remains have been found in abundance.
Johannesburg was also seen as a convenient jumping off point for those drawn from afar by Africa’s wildlife, in particular the Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s largest game and nature reserves, which has been expanded in recent years to become a major cross-border attraction.
Overall, South Africa’s tourism baseline for 2019, according to the annual Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) report, which draws on a wide range of data sources, shows that a clear recovery path has been established in the wake of Covid.
The report assesses a number of indicators, including national accounts, international and domestic visitor surveys, visitor arrival statistics, tourist accommodation data and figures from the restaurant, fast food and catering industry, which together provide a rich source of data.
According to the TSA, the tourism sector contributed 3.7 per cent to SA’s total gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019.
Compared to other sectors, tourism in South Africa is larger than agriculture, utilities (electricity, gas and water combined) and construction.
Tourism activity and expenditure directly contributed $11.2 billion to the national fiscus in 2019, with the fast-growing sector directly employing 4.7 per cent of the total formal workforce. At the time, 773,533 people were working in this part of the formal sector, translating to about 1 in every 21 employed individuals.
With unemployment still well above 30 per cent – and around double that for younger jobseekers – the recovery of the tourism sector, albeit reformulated, bodes well for the economy as a whole.
The sector’s recovery and continued growth are seen by economic commentators as both necessary to South Africa’s much-needed economic turnaround and a key indicator of the speed of that turnaround.
Aside from what it all means for South Africans, who have had a torrid time, with power cuts becoming routine on top of years of pre-Covid economic weakness linked to widespread corruption, tourism operators believe that the pattern of the country’s partial and patchy ‘recovery’ may well be an indicator of expectations for other tourism-dependent economies in Africa.
Shows
See AllAM Live
AM Live is NTV's morning current affairs show that sets the agenda for the day with insightful panels every weekday.
Business Redefined
Business Redefined is Kenya’s premier thought leadership platform for unpacking matters regarding economic and finance policy as well demystifying complex developments in the region’s capital markets.
Comedies
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Documentaries
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Entertainment
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Full Episodes
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Gumzo La Sato
Gumzo La Sato is a live social issues show that aims to create awareness about issues affecting the larger society. The discussions range from Parenting, Marital bliss and struggles, Oppression, violence, and all matters of the Heart.
Health Diary
Health Diary is a weekly show that highlights different types of diseases/conditions and seeks ways to prevent, treat/manage them. The show debunks this through real life stories and also feature specialists in different fields, to offer medical advice on the same.
Letter To My Younger Self
Letter To My Younger Self is a podcast where guests get to write a letter to their younger self, from which Maxine formulates questions to ask them during the hour-long show.
Nation Reports
Nation Reports is a weekly podcast offers an opportunity for listeners to interact with various reporters and journey with them as they unravel the biggest most emotive stories.
One Health Lens Podcast
Discussing health matters and human stories from Kenya and across Africa. We talk big picture from people to policy, ecosystems, and everything in between. Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onehealthlens
Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost peeks through the story of Louis Otieno, the times, and everything in between.
Primetime
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Speaking of GEN Z
Speaking of Gen Z brings you entertaining but meaningful conversations about a generation that is trying to navigate through adulthood. Join hosts Michelle, Jackie and Esther as they unravel all things Gen Z.
Sport On
Sport-On is a 30-minute sports magazine show on NTV and 3 hours on NATION FM. The show seeks to give the sports “fanatics” and “funatics” comprehensive and in-depth coverage of sports both locally and internationally.
Tech-over
The extent of technological growth is beyond mere acknowledgment; it has seamlessly integrated into our daily existence. A few years ago, the notion of paying electricity bills through mobile money or recharging with 'tokens' in Kenya seemed inconceivable. Online product sales were considered distant, and artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping various facets of our lives. Amidst these technological leaps, those with a solid understanding of tech can navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and build a sustainable livelihood. Tech over Show aims to be the platform facilitating discussions among thought leaders, innovators, tech companies, and the government, addressing challenges and opportunities in Kenya's thriving tech industry.
Thamani
Thamani is a business show which is dedicated to emerging issues regarding micro, small and medium size businesses.
The Politalk podcast
This is The Politalk podcast. Here we look into the ins and outs of everything Kenyan politics. We pull no punches and have no reason to sugarcoat anything that matters to Kenyans.
The Trend
A two-hour-long live show that airs on Fridays. The show focuses on what is current in the entertainment industry, controversial and popular across all media platforms targeting those aged between 25 and 35 years.
The trend podcast
The trend podcast highlights and captures the best of banter from #TTTT segment that airs every Friday on NTV. It's the TTTT EXTRA
The Wicked Edition
The Wicked Edition with Dr. King’ori seeks to address serious issues through humour and relatable wit. It is a two-part half hour show filmed in front of a live audience
Trending
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Twende
Twende is a travel show that highlights beautiful, unique, diverse locations, people, and cultures. The show offers fresh perspectives on familiar locations and memorable experiences in new ones.
Unscripted
This Saturday evening lifestyle show lets viewers share their stories and life experiences as openly & honestly for the purpose of shifting the culture of silence.
VIP Access
VIP ACCESS is Anyiko Owoko’s YouTube and podcast show on Music and Culture dedicated to promoting Africa’s most promising talent and creatives. This podcast grants you VIP access into timeless interviews while providing a platform for rising as well as established artists across the continent. Since launching in 2018, Anyiko has interviewed over 70 African music stars.
WADR
This weekly news show aims to have all sides of debate but not be constrained by it, listen to main voices in the contest but not allow them to hold the viewers hostage, entertain debate but allow push back with all due respect.
When death do us part
In this podcast, three widowers openly speak about the process of grief, how they found themselves exposed to the emotional turmoil of losing their wives, and how society still does not know how to deal with them.
Your World
Your World is a health, wellness and variety show. It provides a platform for audiences and experts to share their experiences on how to improve or manage health issues, across Kenya and the Africa region.