Cape Town has been named Africa’s Leading City Destination for 2021 at the 28th annual World Travel Awards.
Table Mountain was also named Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction.
Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards recognises, rewards, and celebrates excellence across all key sectors of travel, tourism, and hospitality.
Despite global challenges, the World Travel Awards reported that travel appetites have reached unprecedented levels, with a 17% increase in voting numbers from the previous year.
A whopping two million votes were cast, representing a huge vote of confidence in the travel and tourism industry.
The City’s Mayoral committee member for economic opportunities and asset management, including tourism, James Vos, said the awards, particularly as Cape Town starts to emerge from months of lockdowns, were both humbling and an “affirmation of the splendour and people of our great metro”.
Mr Vos said tourism directly contributed 3% to South Africa’s GDP, and that doesn’t even take into account the value to industries such as manufacturing or transport.
“These awards bring significant global attention and investor value to the Mother City. We will be building on the gains of these latest awards when I have the distinct pleasure to launch the City’s destination marketing campaign in key domestic and international markets in the coming days.
“Our aim with the campaign is to position Cape Town as the premier destination for travel and trade, thereby giving the local economy its biggest boost in almost two years.”
Enver Duminy, CEO of Cape Town Tourism, said winning these awards were a huge honour and it instilled a sense of confidence in Cape Town as a world- class destination.
“As a visitor walks through the streets of Cape Town, explores our national parks, enjoys our beaches, enjoys what our winelands create, they will undoubtedly enjoy the natural beauty of Cape Town.
“But what turns that enjoyment into a love for our city is what we as locals offer. It’s our warmth and welcoming nature that is the magic ingredient that keeps visitors coming back to Cape Town. And whether you find yourself in the city centre, in Woodstock, in Khayelitsha, Mitchell’s Plain or Langa, visitors will discover that every corner of Cape Town has something quite unique to offer.”
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) managing director, Wahida Parker, said these awards came at the right time. “As South Africa is finally removed from the UK’s red list, we definitely expect to see more tourists from all over the world coming to experience Africa’s leading tourist attraction.”
The 2021 World category Cape Town nominees were:
- Cape Town International Airport for World’s Leading Airport 2021
- Table Mountain for World’s Leading Tourist Attraction
- Cape Town as World’s Leading City Break Destination as well as World’s Leading City Destination
- The Twelve Apostles Hotel for World’s Leading Luxury Hotel
- Villa Two at Ellerman House for World’s Leading Luxury Hotel Villa
- Lawhill Luxury Apartments for World’s Leading Serviced Apartments
- Go2Africa for World’s Leading Luxury Tour Operator
- Babylonstoren Hotel for World’s Leading Resort Sensory Garden
Alongside these nominations, Cape Town’s accolade list includes being voted the Best City in the World for the seventh consecutive year by Telegraph Travel Readers (2020) as well as being named a Safe Travel Destination, by the World Travel & Tourism Council (2020).
