Cape Town – Johannesburg is set to be the most
popular destination city in Africa for the second
year, followed by Cape Town, according to the 2014
MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index.
MasterCard announced the results in a press
release, indicating an expected 4.3 million
international overnight visitors for the City of Gold in
2014. This shows a 4.9% increase on last year’s
4.1 million visitors. Johannesburg also comes out
tops in Africa in terms of international visitor
expenditure, with travellers expected to spend a
substantial US$3.2 billion in 2014 (about R35.6bn at
R11.14/$), compared to US$3.06 billion last year
(about R34bn at R11.14/$).
For the third time in four years, London is the
destination of choice for travellers. London will
receive 18.7 million international visitors in 2014,
followed by Bangkok (16.4 million), Paris (15.6
million), Singapore (12.5 million) and Dubai (11.9
million).
Trailing Johannesburg by a substantial margin,
Cape Town is set to be Africa’s second most visited
city. The Mother City is expected to receive 1.6
million international overnight visitors in 2014, who
are likely to spend US$2.3 billion. This is a 5.5
percent increase in visitor numbers and an
impressive 10 percent increase in spend compared
to 2013 (US$2.1 billion).
“The City of Gold’s status as the most popular
destination city among visitors to the African
continent is significant for the economic prospects
of the city. Visitor spend is an increasingly
important source of revenue for the city’s
hospitality, retail, transport, sports and cultural
sectors,” saids Mark Elliott, Division President,
South Africa, MasterCard.
The 13 African cities ranked in the Index are
Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Cairo,
Casablanca, Accra, Nairobi, Beira, Dakar, Kampala,
Lagos, Maputo and Tunis.
Most visitors to Johannesburg will again travel from
London. This year, visitors from that city will
increase in number by three percent (444,000 in
2013 compared to 458,000 in 2014). Londoners will
spend an estimated US$462 million while in
Johannesburg, US$20 million less than they did in
2013.
Frankfurt (305,000 people), Harare (269,000 people)
, Maputo (204,000 people) and Paris (198,000)
round out the top five cities sending visitors to
Johannesburg. Parisians are expected to spend the
most (US$337 million), followed by visitors from
Frankfurt (US$159 million), Harare (US$140 million)
, and Maputo (US$115 million).
Now in its fourth year, the MasterCard Index of
Global Destination Cities ranks 132 cities in terms
of the number of their total international visitor
arrivals and the cross-border spending by these
same visitors in the destination cities. It also gives
visitor and passenger growth forecasts for 2014.
“This year’s Index points to a continued strong
demand for and interest in air travel, both for
business and personal reasons. Having
Johannesburg and Cape Town in the top two places
in Africa is a great achievement for South African
tourism,” Elliott said.
News24
popular destination city in Africa for the second
year, followed by Cape Town, according to the 2014
MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index.
MasterCard announced the results in a press
release, indicating an expected 4.3 million
international overnight visitors for the City of Gold in
2014. This shows a 4.9% increase on last year’s
4.1 million visitors. Johannesburg also comes out
tops in Africa in terms of international visitor
expenditure, with travellers expected to spend a
substantial US$3.2 billion in 2014 (about R35.6bn at
R11.14/$), compared to US$3.06 billion last year
(about R34bn at R11.14/$).
For the third time in four years, London is the
destination of choice for travellers. London will
receive 18.7 million international visitors in 2014,
followed by Bangkok (16.4 million), Paris (15.6
million), Singapore (12.5 million) and Dubai (11.9
million).
Trailing Johannesburg by a substantial margin,
Cape Town is set to be Africa’s second most visited
city. The Mother City is expected to receive 1.6
million international overnight visitors in 2014, who
are likely to spend US$2.3 billion. This is a 5.5
percent increase in visitor numbers and an
impressive 10 percent increase in spend compared
to 2013 (US$2.1 billion).
“The City of Gold’s status as the most popular
destination city among visitors to the African
continent is significant for the economic prospects
of the city. Visitor spend is an increasingly
important source of revenue for the city’s
hospitality, retail, transport, sports and cultural
sectors,” saids Mark Elliott, Division President,
South Africa, MasterCard.
The 13 African cities ranked in the Index are
Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Cairo,
Casablanca, Accra, Nairobi, Beira, Dakar, Kampala,
Lagos, Maputo and Tunis.
Most visitors to Johannesburg will again travel from
London. This year, visitors from that city will
increase in number by three percent (444,000 in
2013 compared to 458,000 in 2014). Londoners will
spend an estimated US$462 million while in
Johannesburg, US$20 million less than they did in
2013.
Frankfurt (305,000 people), Harare (269,000 people)
, Maputo (204,000 people) and Paris (198,000)
round out the top five cities sending visitors to
Johannesburg. Parisians are expected to spend the
most (US$337 million), followed by visitors from
Frankfurt (US$159 million), Harare (US$140 million)
, and Maputo (US$115 million).
Now in its fourth year, the MasterCard Index of
Global Destination Cities ranks 132 cities in terms
of the number of their total international visitor
arrivals and the cross-border spending by these
same visitors in the destination cities. It also gives
visitor and passenger growth forecasts for 2014.
“This year’s Index points to a continued strong
demand for and interest in air travel, both for
business and personal reasons. Having
Johannesburg and Cape Town in the top two places
in Africa is a great achievement for South African
tourism,” Elliott said.
News24
posted from Bloggeroid
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