International arrivals in Cape Town are up 14 percent compared with last festive season, according to Airports Company SA (Acsa).
Nearly 300 000 domestic travellers passed through Cape Town International Airport last month, 4 percent more than last year, Acsa Cape Town spokeswoman Deidre Davids said.
Popular tourist attractions have already begun to benefit, including hotels and resorts on the Garden Route and the West Coast that are already fully booked, while:
l At least 100 000 people are expected to use the Table Mountain cableway this month.
l The V&A Waterfront is expecting at least 3 million visitors this month.
However, Cape Town Tourism communications manager Skye Grove said struggling accommodation establishments in the city were not seeing the same boom, with most visitors choosing to stay with family and friends instead.
“The increase we are seeing is at the popular tourist attractions, not at hotels and guest houses… People are extremely price-sensitive because of the current economic conditions, both locally and internationally.”
Grove said very few hotels in the city were fully booked for the festive season.
“We have to remember that room capacity increased dramatically in Cape Town as result of the World Cup,” she said.
“There are about 60 000 hotel, guest house, bed and breakfast, self-catering and backpacker beds in greater Cape Town. We have seen an increased accommodation capacity of about 40 percent over the past four years.
“Domestic and international visitors are looking for added value and expect excellent service. They are, more than ever, prepared to shop around for the best deal when it comes to experiences, food, drinks and accommodation.”
Cape Town Routes Unlimited chief executive Calvyn Gilfellan said the hospitality industry would see “a slight return to normality” over the next four to six weeks.
He said conditions were still tough and that many holiday-makers were going for cheaper accommodation rates or one-day trips.
“The city centre has a lot of spare accommodation this year. Our aim over the next few days will be to encourage visitors to book in the city. There are 20 percent more rooms in the city than two years ago.”
Gilfellan said establishments could not afford to overcharge.
“Competition is tough, people know they have to be realistic with their rates,” he said.
Meanwhile, one of the city’s high-end hotels is almost fully booked.
Ian Manley, publicist for the One&Only Cape Town, said occupancy figures were healthy, with most dates leading up to New Year’s Eve already booked.
“Bookings for the festive season lunches and dinners at Reuben’s One&Only and Nobu One&Only are already at full capacity and the resort has opened other venues over this period to handle the extra demand,” said Manley. - Cape Argus