The V&A Waterfront is celebrating a major milestone, having had over 3 million visitors over December who shopped and enjoyed all the amenities and loved the local and lekker decorations made by talented crafters.
Cape Town, South Africa (06 February 2025) – As the festive decor glittered and dazzled at the V&A Waterfront, over 3 million people crossed the threshold to visit the mall and view all the local and lekker wonders. Aside from the decor, the team made the entire holiday season a memorable one, filling the day-to-day with fun entertainers, music and summer vibes!
With so many people, local and international, visiting the Waterfront, the retailers experienced record-breaking sales to the tune of almost R1.4 billion. That is a massive boost to the local economy and a real reason to rejoice. Aside from the festive atmosphere, the waterfront is a popular destination for the year-end, and New Year’s Eve has proved to be a big celebration, too!
On New Year’s Eve alone, approximately 200,000 people visited the Waterfront throughout the day to enjoy its amenities as well as its New Year’s Eve celebration, confirming its status as a hub for fun and festive activities and a key contributor to Cape Town’s tourism economy.
“The December period is always special at the V&A Waterfront with locals and tourists making their way to enjoy the best of what we have to offer, and this year was no exception,” said David Green, Chief Executive Officer at the V&A Waterfront.
“With over 3 million visitors for the month and 25 million visitors for the year reflects the incredible appeal of the Waterfront as a destination where people come to connect, celebrate, and create memories.”
Across the retail board, positive growth is being reported. Retailers, restaurants, entertainment and more all reported an influx of visitors and spenders. From high-end retailers to local curators in the curios sector, waiters and service staff all benefitted, too!
The concept of supporting locals was big, too, with the fashion sector seeing a stronger performance from those more independent and differentiated stores.
Additionally, major attractions such as the Two Oceans Aquarium and the Zeitz MOCAA Museum continued to draw significant footfall. Both attractions enjoyed a 4% increase respectively over last year’s already strong December and, for the full 12 months, registered double-digit growth of 10%.
One of the big draws to the Waterfront is the annual “Joy from Africa To The World” campaign. We shared the beautiful installations in December, but millions of people went to view the beautiful decorations in person.
Photo Credit: V&A Waterfront
Now in its sixth year, the popular event connects local art, craft, and design with visitors to the neighbourhood, presenting colourful, large-scale, handcrafted installations that pay homage to the continent’s crafters and makers.
Joy From Africa’s impact comes to life through a focus on job creation and skills development in working with local communities and makers who demonstrate a strong focus on repurposing, upcycling and conscious sourcing of materials used in all the festive decorations.
The theme for 2024 was ‘Between the Mountain and the Sea‘, and it saw the city’s most well-known landmarks and flora transformed into art. This included an iconic festive tree raising awareness of the endangered African penguin and the popular New Year’s Eve free music concert.
With 2024 being such a positive year, 2025 is gearing up to be a great one. With so many people venturing out and enjoying the beauty of South Africa, we have faith that reports for this year will be just as positive.
“Looking ahead, our ongoing investment plans will ensure that the V&A Waterfront continues to innovate and evolve, keeping South Africa’s tourism offering at the forefront of global travel trends for both local and international to enjoy,” added Green.
Located in Cape Town’s historic harbour, with the majestic Table Mountain as its backdrop, the V&A Waterfront is a symbol of heritage, diversity, and innovation. Beyond being a destination, it champions sustainability, supports local communities, and drives positive economic change. And we love it!
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