In preparation for the summer tourism season in the Western Cape, Mireille Wenger, the provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, hosted the second annual ‘Summer Tourism Readiness Dialogue.’ Key stakeholders from the tourism and hospitality sectors attended this event to solidify plans for the upcoming record-breaking summer tourism season.
Wenger highlighted the substantial increase in inbound international seats for the summer of 2023/24. Cape Town International Airport’s seat capacity is estimated to grow by an impressive 25%, exceeding 1 million inbound international seats for the first time ever. She credited the collaborative efforts of the public and private sectors for this achievement.
One of the key focus areas for ensuring a successful upcoming season is simplifying the visa process for international visitors. Wenger expressed her commitment to working with national government partners to address visa system inefficiencies and welcomed the announcement that the long-awaited Remote or Digital Nomad Visa will be available by the end of March 2024.
Safety is another critical aspect of preparing for the upcoming season. Approximately 250 tourism monitors will be deployed across the Western Cape to identify hotspots. They will be trained and equipped with mobile apps to connect them with critical security services. Additionally, programs for assisting distressed tourists are being implemented.
Wenger stressed the importance of ensuring that the tourism and hospitality sector has access to the necessary skills to provide the best possible experience for visitors. A skills forum has been established to address the skills challenges in the industry and align industry needs with the skills supply.
In conclusion, Wenger emphasized that a flourishing tourism sector leads to more jobs and a stronger economy. It benefits not only the tourism sector but also the people of the Western Cape and South Africa as a whole. The goal is to welcome millions of tourists to this outstanding region and continue providing world-class hospitality.
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