Emirates and Wesgro Sign MoU to Drive Inbound Tourism to Western Cape
Emirates and Wesgro have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of WTM Africa 2026 in Cape Town, formalising a partnership to boost inbound tourism to the Western Cape from key growth markets including the GCC, Far East, and India. The agreement was signed by Emirates Regional Manager for Southern Africa Afzal Parambil and Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander at the Emirates stand at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. The partnership supports Wesgro's Growth for Jobs Strategy and complements Emirates' plans to introduce a third daily frequency to Cape Town this summer, operated by its newest aircraft type, the Airbus A350 - making South Africa the only African nation served by all three aircraft in the Emirates fleet, alongside the A380 and retrofitted Boeing 777. Cape Town International Airport recorded a record 11.1 million two-way passengers in 2025.
Parambil described Cape Town as one of the most consistently in-demand destinations on Emirates' African network, adding that the MoU will help unlock new growth opportunities and showcase the breadth of experience the Western Cape offers to travellers across the airline's global network. Emirates first launched services to Cape Town in March 2008 and has steadily expanded operations since, with high volumes of passengers recorded from the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas in recent years. Beyond passenger travel, Emirates SkyCargo facilitates significant trade flows between South Africa and global markets, transporting fresh produce - including fruit, vegetables, seafood, and cut flowers - with farm-to-shop turnaround times of 24 to 48 hours.
Source: Travel & Tourism News - TTN