Cape Town Tourism Shows Divergent Trends in Winter Travel
By Editor • August 20, 2026 • 1 min read
Cape Town's winter tourism landscape is marked by contrasting trends as international visitor numbers remain strong while local travelers become more budget-conscious. In 2025, the city welcomed 1.44 million international overnight guests, contributing R19 billion to the local economy.
Conversely, domestic overnight trips decreased to 1.42 million, with average stays dropping from 5.2 to 4.4 nights. Domestic tourism spending also fell from R8 billion to R5.5 billion, influenced by financial constraints. Cape Town Tourism CEO Enver Duminy noted that despite economic pressures, the desire to travel persists, albeit with evolving definitions of value.
The winter season has also seen a shift in tourism dynamics, with Wesgro indicating a growing year-round appeal.
Source: www.getaway.co.za
