Cape Town International Airport has shared how many arrival passengers it welcomed this December, and if you’re a local who had to navigate a very busy season, this number won’t surprise you. Over half a million arrivals made their way to Cape Town this December! What may come as a surprise to some, however, is that the biggest surge of visitors didn’t come from overseas but from places closer to home.
Cape Town, South Africa (21 January 2025) — It was a very busy Dezemba for Cape Town. And, if you felt like there were hundreds of thousands of new faces in and around town, you wouldn’t have been wrong. Cape Town tourism has revealed that the Cape Town International Airport saw a spectacular number of arrivals last month, a number singing to the tune of over half a million!
According to Cape Town Tourism, the Cape Town International Airport has recorded a 3% year-on-year increase in passenger arrivals, with 533,829 arrivals last December. This figure meant very good things for the local economy and even better things for Cape Town’s position as a premiere destination.
What may come as a surprise to some is that the biggest surge in arrivals didn’t come from international counterparts.
International arrivals were at 160,537, up 3.7%. But, it was the regional arrivals that boomed most at an increase of 22.5% (10 491 ), meaning more visitors from our neighbouring countries. As for domestic arrivals, these were at 362,222; an increase of 2.3%.
Enver Duminy, Cape Town Tourism’s CEO, beamed at the positive numbers, stating:
“These numbers show the growing confidence in Cape Town as a destination that draws visitors from all corners. With enhanced air access and our city’s unmatched appeal, from locals rediscovering their home to international travellers exploring our world-famous attractions, Cape Town is a favourite for many.”
Cape Town’s position as a top travel spot has further been solidified thanks to the Time Out Best City in the World rankings, which put the Mother City back on top as the World’s Best City ahead of giants like New York, Melbourne and London! You can read all about it here.
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