Cape Town named number one city in Africa, Middle East

Source: Biz Community, 16/07/2018

For the 17th year, the Travel + Leisure reader`s poll has named Cape
Town as the number one favoured city in Africa and the Middle East.
The publication`s poll commended the city for its favourable exchange
rate, first-rate hotels, and ongoing business and leisure travel success.

In light of the region’s challenges, including water shortages, the
city’s tourism officials are thrilled about this year’s achievements.
`We’ve maintained an `open for business` approach throughout our
efforts in driving sustainable tourism, and this accolade reveals that
this strategy has worked; we remain an unparalleled destination on the
continent, and one whose multiple initiatives in saving water has
ensured that we can continue to attract visitors. We’re honoured that
so many travellers remain confident in our ability to offer fantastic
attractions and experiences,` said Enver Duminy, Cape Town Tourism CEO.

According to South African Tourism’s CEO, Sisa Ntshona: `This accolade
is a testament to South Africa’s rich and varied travel offering for
travellers from the continent and the Middle East and an affirmation
of our five-in-five goal of attracting five million more tourists by 2021.
Sustainable and responsible tourism
`The water shortages as experienced in Cape Town and other parts of
the country have certainly placed us at the forefront of leading the
drive towards sustainable and responsible tourism in a meaningful way.
Through the country’s #WaterWiseTourism drive in action, Travel +
Leisure readers have given a stamp of approval that South Africa
remains very much open for tourism, with responsible tourism practices
becoming entrenched as the `new normal`.`

`South Africa has become a benchmark for how world-class cities
respond to future climate threats associated with water, it is our
responsibility to share our learnings and encourage others around the
world to help adapt to the new normal,` concludes Ntshona.

The city’s efforts in reducing water usage include bringing
alternative water supplies on board, as well as locals reducing
household water use. In the tourism sector, hotels and the big
attractions have rolled out varied strategies that reduce water usage
while minimising the impact on visitor experience.

It was recently announced that these efforts, coupled with healthy
winter rainfall, have contributed to a great recovery in the water
crisis, although resident visitors are encouraged to carry on, in the
same way, to ensure that this recovery can be completed.


Additional accolades for 2018 include:

• Kalk Bay in Cape Town is voted number one in the 12 coolest suburbs
in the world list (Forbes)

• South Africa has been ranked as one of the ten most Muslim-friendly
travel destinations for 2018 among non-Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC) countries in the annual Mastercard-Crescent Rating
Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI)

• Cape Town was once again crowned as the number one city in Africa
for business tourism events by the International Congress and
Convention Association (ICCA).

• Cape Town listed in Surfer Magazine’s Top Ten Surf Cities in the
World List - March 2018.

• Cape Town comes in at number five in the UK Post Office Travel
Report’s “Best Value for Travel” rankings in 2018.