Western Cape Tourism Focuses On East Asia

Emerging markets such as those in the Far East are an untapped well of potential for the Cape Town and Western Cape tourism industry.

This is according to Cape Town Routes Unlimited (CTRU) CEO, Calvyn Gilfellan, who will take part in this year’s South African Tourism Far East Asia Workshops.

CTRU aims to promote Cape Town and the Western Cape as the destination of choice to local tour operators at the workshops, which will be split into three legs – the first in China from June 3-5, the second in Korea from June 6-7 and the third in Japan from June 8-10.

Says Gilfellan: “The Far East Asia is a lucrative market for the Cape Town and Western Cape tourism industry. Tourists in this market tend to travel during our ‘low season’, which is from May to September, and generally travel in groups. Last year, the country recorded a 47.4% increase in visitors from China, Korea and Japan, translating into 113 375 visitors. This can in part be attributed to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which created top-of-mind awareness of the destination.”

Source: SA Tourism Update