Emirates and Wesgro Agree Tourism Push to Boost Cape Town Visitor Flows

Mintesinot Nigussie

Emirates and Wesgro have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen inbound tourism to Cape Town and the Western Cape, as the airline prepares to expand capacity on one of its most in-demand African routes. The agreement was concluded on the sidelines of the World Travel Market Africa.

Under the partnership, both parties will collaborate to attract travellers from key growth markets, including the Gulf Cooperation Council region, the Far East, India and other selected destinations. The focus will be on promoting Cape Town and the Western Cape as leisure and business destinations.

Afzal Parambil, Emirates’ regional manager for Southern Africa, said Cape Town remained one of Emirates’ strongest-performing destinations in Africa. The airline is planning to introduce a third daily frequency to Cape Town, operated by the Airbus A350.

Wrenelle Stander, chief executive of Wesgro, said the partnership aligns with Wesgro’s mandate to stimulate demand and strengthen trade and investment ties across priority markets. Tourism remains a central pillar of the Western Cape economy, supporting employment and attracting millions of visitors annually.

Emirates launched flights to Cape Town in 2008, making it its second South African destination after Johannesburg. The carrier currently operates a mix of aircraft on the route, including the Airbus A380 and a retrofitted Boeing 777.

Beyond passenger travel, Emirates SkyCargo continues to support South African exports, transporting perishable goods such as fruit, vegetables, seafood, dairy and flowers.

Overall, the partnership between Emirates and Wesgro is expected to boost visitor flows to Cape Town and the Western Cape while strengthening tourism and trade links with key international markets.