Latest news with #Wesgro
Time Out
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time Out
Cape Town's record cruise season wraps: Who's docking in 2025-26?
Cape Town's longest-ever cruise season has officially docked. Over the course of eight months, 83 cruise ships pulled into port, with 11 of them visiting for the very first time. With its dedicated cruise terminal at the V&A Waterfront, world-class infrastructure, and ever-expanding itinerary of global routes, Cape Town is cementing itself as a must-do cruise stop - not just for international luxury liners, but also for homegrown themed experiences, all set to return aboard the MSC Opera in 2026. Highlights of the 2024/25 Cruise Season: 83 ship calls to Cape Town, with 11 maiden voyages R1.32 billion contributed to the regional economy Over 2,000 jobs supported 16% increase in passenger and crew arrivals year-on-year Inaugural visit from Cunard's Queen Anne on 10 April — joining cruise royalty in Cape Town after last year's double call from Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria 'As we work towards the province's goal of doubling tourism by 2035, these figures underscore Cape Town and the Western Cape's growing stature as a leading cruise destination on the African continent,' said Wrenelle Stander, CEO of Wesgro. 'Each new ship that chooses Cape Town brings with it the opportunity to create long-term partnerships,' added David Green, CEO of the V&A Waterfront. 'Our world-class infrastructure, coupled with Cape Town's natural beauty and diverse experiences, makes us a compelling stop on any global cruise itinerary.' As the 2024/25 season came to a close with the departure of the Crown Princess on 29 June, the city is already charting a bold course for 2025/26. Expect bigger ships, themed voyages, more maiden calls, and continued investment in what's fast becoming one of the continent's most exciting tourism sectors. 'We have worked hard to promote Cape Town as a cruise gateway to Africa. This season's success demonstrates what is possible when government and industry collaborate. Every ship arrival is an economic opportunity – not just for the City, but for communities across the metro,' added Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth at the City of Cape Town, Alderman James Vos. What's Next? Now, all eyes are on the 2025-26 season, kicking off in October 2025. Tourists can look forward to visits from Mein Schiff 4, AIDAprima, Costa Toscana, Queen Mary 2, Seven Seas Mariner and more - along with returning local favourites like MSC Opera's Love Jazz Cruise.
Zawya
18-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
New study reveals how South Africans are redefining adventure travel
New research into South Africa's domestic adventure tourism market reveals a growing trend: more than 30% of local travellers spend under R500 per person per day yet still seek meaningful, high-value experiences. Conducted by Satsa in partnership with Wesgro, the study gathered insights from over 4,200 respondents through the 101 Adventures Western Cape Competition. Touted as the most extensive analysis of its kind to date, the findings highlight a growing preference for experience-rich, affordable adventure travel and challenge outdated perceptions around pricing in the sector. "This research fundamentally shifts our understanding of South Africa's adventure traveller," says Hannelie du Toit, Satsa's COO. "We're seeing a market that values experience over expense, with clear implications for how operators should position and price their offerings." Key market findings The data reveals three equally compelling travel motivators: adventure (20.3%), relaxation (21.2%), and family time (21.1%), highlighting the multi-dimensional nature of domestic travel decision-making. This finding suggests operators should consider hybrid experiences that address multiple consumer needs simultaneously. Self-catering accommodation emerged as the clear preference amongst respondents, followed by bed-and-breakfasts and resorts, reinforcing the importance of flexible, affordable lodging options. The most sought-after activities - boat cruises, hot air ballooning, hiking, zip-lining, and helicopter rides - showcase consumers' desire for variety and scenic experiences. Higher-budget travellers demonstrated distinct preferences for wildlife safaris, wine tours, and whale watching, with premium segments gravitating towards wellness, cultural, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Across all demographics and spending levels, value for money emerged as the paramount concern, alongside practical amenities such as complimentary Wi-Fi and proximity to natural environments. Rethinking product and pricing strategies For industry stakeholders, from marketers to regional planners, the report offers clear direction: focus on affordability without sacrificing quality; develop flexible packages that suit families as well as solo adventurers; prioritise authentic local experiences that deliver real bang for buck. "Understanding our domestic market has never been more critical," said David Frost, SATSA CEO. "This research enables our members to make informed decisions about product development, pricing strategies, and market positioning. It's the kind of evidence-based insight that drives sustainable industry growth." The study forms part of Satsa's broader commitment to data-driven industry support and strategic market intelligence. A complementary supply-side report, currently in development with adventure operators, will quantify sector size and performance metrics, creating a comprehensive view of market dynamics from both consumer and operator perspectives. Looking Forward The research comes at a critical time for South Africa's tourism industry as operators seek to understand and capitalise on evolving domestic travel patterns in the post-pandemic landscape. Adventure tourism, recognised globally as one of the fastest-growing segments within the travel industry, represents a significant opportunity for economic recovery and inclusive growth across South Africa's regions. The findings support Satsa's mission to strengthen adventure tourism's strategic position within the country's broader tourism offering, driving inclusive growth, regional distribution, and authentic local experiences. The findings also reinforce the critical role of industry associations in providing market intelligence that enables informed business decisions and strategic planning across the tourism value chain. You can access the full report here.
Zawya
18-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
China announces zero-tariff access for African countries, boosting trade opportunities
China has announced a zero-tariff policy granting duty-free access to all 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations. This significant move, announced in mid-2025, aims to deepen trade ties and open the Chinese market to a wider range of African products. The policy is expected to enhance export opportunities across the continent, positioning African businesses to better compete in the world's second-largest economy. In line with this development, Wesgro, the Western Cape's trade, tourism, and investment promotion agency, recently facilitated the participation of a Western Cape delegation at the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE), held from 12 to 15 June 2025 in Changsha, China. CAETE is one of the largest trade exhibitions globally, creating direct linkages between African businesses and the Chinese market. The delegation included exporters and trade facilitators showcasing products such as organic cosmetics, wines, spices, fresh flowers, teas, and nutritional goods. Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander says: "China is a key trading partner for the Western Cape. In 2024, total exports from the province to China reached R11.76bn, making it one of the largest export markets for the province. "If we are to realise our provincial objective of trebling exports from the province by 2035, growth in new markets will be essential. Over the coming weeks, Wesgro will work to understand how businesses can best leverage new opportunities flowing from this announcement.' The agency continues to focus on expanding access to other strategic markets, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), India, Brazil, and the Middle East. 'Market diversification is critical to building resilience and long-term growth for Western Cape businesses,' Stander added. 'By supporting engagements in key global markets like China, we're advancing our strategic mandate to drive trade and investment.' Strategic partnerships drive African market access Andrew Robertson, head of business enablement and operations at business and commercial banking, Standard Bank Group, highlighted the catalytic potential of China's zero-tariff policy for African exporters, saying: 'At Business and Commercial Banking, we pride ourselves on turning possibilities into opportunities for the businesses that power Africa's vibrant economies. "China's zero-tariff policy presents a catalytic opportunity, and through strategic platforms and our strategic partnerships with entities such as Wesgro, we support businesses convert policy into progress by unlocking direct access to high-potential buyers,' says Robertson. 'By leveraging our digital trade capabilities, sector-specific support, and cross-border partnerships, we empower clients to start, manage and grow, not just in China, but across the African continent and other key global markets. We are about enabling long-term growth through market access that is practical, scalable and sustainable.' Wesgro has partnered with Standard Bank Group to facilitate Western Cape exporters' participation at CAETE 2025, connecting local businesses directly with Chinese buyers and fostering market access under this new trade landscape. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
The South African
05-06-2025
- Business
- The South African
Cape Town among the top global destinations for this kind of event
Cape Town continues to grow in popularity with visitors. Image via Pixabay. Home » Cape Town among the top global destinations for this kind of event Cape Town continues to grow in popularity with visitors. Image via Pixabay. Cape Town is growing in popularity with business travellers. In fact, a new report shows that the city is now one of the world's top destinations for international conventions. That's according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) GlobeWatch 2024 Business Analytics Report. The report provides insight into global association meetings, including the favourite destinations for such conferences. Cape Town has risen 15 spots in the ICCA GlobeWatch 2024 rankings for international association meetings. It now ranks 35th globally. The city also ranks in the top 10 globally for average attendance per event. 717 delegates attend the average event in the city. Cape Town hosted 58 international meetings in 2024, up from 42 in 2023. Smaller towns like Stellenbosch also hosted multiple events, reflecting a province-wide trend. South Africa as a whole remains the top country in Africa for international meetings. The country hosted 98 international meetings in both 2023 and 2024. The business events industry generated over R2 billion for the national economy in that period. The rise is attributed to strategic bidding, strong public-private partnerships, and increasing interest in the region as a hub for knowledge-sharing and innovation. Wesgro, the official tourism, trade, and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, welcomed the news. In a statement on Bizcommunity, CEO Wrenelle Stander said: 'This ranking shows that Cape Town and the Western Cape stand shoulder to shoulder with global conference hubs such as Dubai, Barcelona, and Melbourne. We are particularly pleased that smaller towns across the province are experiencing the benefits of business events.' Stander added that Wesgro secured 36 new conference bids for 2024/25, projecting an impact of R745 million and over 27 000 delegates through 2028. Cape Town's rise in the rankings was also celebrated by Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer. Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, also welcomed the news. The Mother City's popularity is by no means slowing down. Cape Town will host a plethora of conventions in the next few years, including: International Communication Association Congress (2026) World Congress on ADHD (2027) World Congress of Entomology (2028) Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
News24
08-05-2025
- Business
- News24
SA's film industry is grappling with govt shortcomings — and now Trump is in the picture
Inconsistent payouts from a government scheme to lure foreign film production to SA has damaged the industry. That's according to industry players, who are now concerned about the effect of US tariffs on foreign-made films. The government acknowledges the problem and says high demand for rebates led to budgetary constraints. For more financial news, go to the News24 Business homepage. Troubles getting payment from the incentive system meant to attract international film companies to South Africa have left the industry fragile, those in the industry say. Further pain now looms after US President Donald Trump announced movies are also in his sights as he continues down a tariff warpath. South Africa has historically been a beloved destination for international film companies to shoot in, Unathi Malunga, executive officer at the South African Screen Federation (SASFED), told News24. The federation is the national representative of independent film, television and audiovisual industry organisations. South Africa is relatively inexpensive to film in compared to other destinations. It has good weather, an abundance of talent, and a variety of shooting destinations. This is especially true in the Western Cape and Cape Town. Wesgro, the official tourism, trade, and investment promotion agency for these provinces, and the City of Cape Town recognise this and run initiatives to support the industry. Films such as Mad Max: Fury Road, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, Blood Diamond, and The Kissing Booth were either partly or primarily filmed in South Africa. Delon Bakker, chairperson of the Independent Producers' Organisation — a body that represents independent South African film, television, and digital media producers — said the incentives were a key part of attracting companies to shoot in South Africa. 'Our film incentives are crucially important to holding up our industry,' he said. However, inconsistent payments to companies that have applied to the fund have caused serious reputational damage to the South African film industry. Accurate statistics on the size of the South African film industry are hard to come by. However, pre-pandemic data presented by the National Film and Video Foundation suggests that film productions have a relatively high economic multiplier. This means that films shot locally have significant benefits for the local economy. Because of this, many countries offer incentives to film companies to attract them to shoot there. Countries such as Australia, Morocco, Canada, France, New Zealand, the UK, and Brazil offer such incentives. South Africa also has a foreign film incentive administered by the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (dtic). The rebate allows qualifying companies to claim a minimum of 25% of their South African production expenditure back. This is contingent on the project meeting certain empowerment and local spending requirements. The rebate can go higher than 25% but is capped at a maximum value of R25 million. There is also an incentive for local film companies. Payment troubles News24 understands that inefficiencies, disputes, and delayed payments from the incentive date back to 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic and have not been fully resolved. At one point, several companies who had applied and been given pre-approval for the incentive, later had that approval repudiated, with the dtic citing new guidelines for the fund. The repudiation was later overturned in many cases. This has caused trust issues for companies considering working in South Africa. Malunga said that trust is essential as the incentive is structured as a rebate, meaning companies first need to spend before claiming some of that expenditure back. 'There are two things that are necessary for an incentive. There has to be certainty, and there has to be reliability. Otherwise, there is no trust.' She said that this has resulted in companies turning away from South Africa. 'We were a beloved destination to come to. We lost all that,' she said. Bakker echoed this sentiment. 'Some companies are extremely sceptical of the South African rebate. I deal with this all the time,' he said. In February this year, film workers protested outside the dtic offices in Tshwane to demand action to resolve the rebate system. READ | SA film industry demands DTIC action to salvage collapsing rebate system In response to questions from News24, dtic spokesperson Yamkela Fanisi acknowledged that the film rebate programme has had issues, which he attributed to budgetary constraints brought on by the incentive's popularity. 'Due to the success and popularity of the incentive, the programme has been oversubscribed, and the demand outstripped the budget available; therefore, the dtic is dealing with the budgetary constraint challenge while exploring different options in ensuring that approved productions are paid and the incentive continue to support the SA economy in a meaningful way,' he said. Fanisi did not respond to questions about the current scale of the non-payment problem prior to publication. And there's a sequel Trump's recent threat to impose a 100% tariff on movies could cause further issues for the South African industry. On Sunday evening, Trump made a post on Truth Social, ordering the introduction of a tariff on all movies coming into the US that are produced in 'foreign lands'. Several commentators have pointed out that the proposed tariff does not make sense, and there are numerous practical uncertainties about how it will work. Regardless, the threat signals Trump's intention to introduce an intervention so that more films will be made in the US rather than abroad. Malunga, who said she was speaking about the tariffs in her personal capacity, said that in the short run, any further uncertainty caused by Trump's impromptu announcement could result in deal negotiations between South African and US companies being put on hold. 'The uncertainty alone can delay production and financing,' she said in a Facebook post that she sent to News24. In the medium to long term, Malunga said that there could be a structural shift that results in less international films being shot in South Africa. Nosipho Maketo-Van den Bragt, the CEO of Chocolate Tribe, a visual effects and animation studio with offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg, said there was 'palpable tension' as the South African film industry tries to digest what the tariff could mean for its businesses. She said Chocolate Tribe, which has worked with companies like Netflix, Amazon, and the BBC, gets around 70% to 80% of its work from international film companies. She said that Chocolate Tribe has been trying to increase the share of its work on local productions in South Africa or the continent, such that there is a fifty-fifty split between local and international projects. Beyond the practical issues that the tariff could create, Maketo-Van den Bragt said that, in her view, the tariff does not align with the purpose of film. 'It's problematic because film itself is really about experiencing a global story. There is a strong push toward local stories that have global resonance.' She said it would be difficult to collaborate with the US if it took an isolationist approach. Wake-up call Bakker said that fixing the foreign film incentive was the 'greatest weapon' the government could use to protect the local industry from the potential impact of a US tariff. 'This is a call to the government to resolve its incentive programme immediately to combat the adverse effects. Even with these tariffs, we could still be very economical. We are one of the most inexpensive places in the world to shoot a movie,' he said. He said there was abundant talent in the South African industry, meaning we could be one of the few locations that 'still look good'. 'We could still be in the market if our incentive programme is working efficiently. Government needs to heed this call,' he said. Fanisi said the dtic was committed to offering film incentives for international and local film companies and had told the industry that their claims would be honoured. Wesgro told News24 that it was assessing the potential impact of the tariff and was committed to supporting businesses in the industry. 'Wesgro is in the process of assessing the potential impact, noting full details have yet to be announced. We remain committed to supporting businesses in the Western Cape navigate these challenges with confidence and support,' it said.
