Cape Town's tourism industry generated an impressive R24.5 billion in direct spending in 2025, sustaining over 106,000 jobs across the city, Cape town Etc reports.
Central to this achievement is the surge in international visitor spending, which reached a record R19 billion. This encouraging growth, however, contrasts sharply with a decline in domestic tourism expenditure, primarily driven by the economic pressures faced by South African households.
The recently released 2025 Economic Value of Tourism report from Cape Town Tourism highlights two compelling narratives: one reflecting the burgeoning appeal of the city to international visitors, and another shaped by the financial strains that have led to a decrease in spending by local travellers.
