Wine Tourism Poised for Growth in Western Cape
Michael Ratcliffe, head of the Stellenbosch Wine Routes, is bullish on the future of wine tourism in South Africa's Western Cape region. Speaking ahead of an industry conference, Ratcliffe highlighted major growth opportunities on the horizon.
He cited the booming US market as the fastest-growing source of visitors, with multiple new direct flight routes from America to Cape Town. The forthcoming Cape Winelands Airport, expected in 2027, will provide another lucrative channel.
Cruise tourism is also an area ripe for expansion according to Ratcliffe. He pointed to recent examples of multiple large luxury liners docking simultaneously and straining local capacity as evidence of the huge potential demand.
To capitalise, Ratcliffe urged greater industry collaboration, premiumisation of offerings, and digitization efforts like online booking. He advocated promoting "brand South Africa" while still highlighting each region's unique experiences.
The upcoming 8th annual Wine Tourism Conference on May 30th will gather experts like US speaker Paul Wagner to explore strategies for profitable growth in this flourishing sector. Optimism is high that wine tourism can drive sustainable economic benefits.
Source: BizCommunity