V&A Waterfront posts 3m December visitors and R1.4bn sales
Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront recorded more than three million visitors and R1.4 billion in sales in December, capped by a New Year’s Eve event that drew 200,000 revellers and a global livestream audience. For 2025, the precinct matched 25 million visitors and achieved over R11 billion in retail sales – up 7% year on year – with CEO Graham Wood noting the neighbourhood supports more than 83,000 direct and indirect jobs and contributes over 1.5% of Western Cape GDP.
Tourism indicators remained firm, with December hotel occupancies across 13 properties at 69% and the InterContinental Table Bay reopening after a 10‑month conversion. The Cape Town Cruise Terminal handled 74 vessels, 126,000 passengers and 45,000 crew in 2025, while Cape Town Air Access delivers about 230 international flights weekly. Looking ahead to 2026, the V&A plans to open its luxury retail wing, the EDITION, Cape Town hotel in Q3, and a new superyacht basin in October, following December international arrivals that were 11% higher year on year.
Source: Waterfront
