SA Hospitality Industry to benefit from Tourists spending

Cape Town is a key attraction for foreign tourists with the favourable currency exchange adding to the city's aesthetic allure.

South Africa's Hospitality Industry is gearing up for a bumper festive season and set to benefit from more International and local visitor spending this year.

South Africa is having a bumper year for tourism with close to five million tourists having visited the country in the first half of the year.

This represents a five percent increase from the same period last year and, as the year draws to a close, even more tourists are arriving.

And as the year draws to a close, even more tourists are arriving.

Cape Town is a key attraction for foreign tourists with the favourable currency exchange adding to the city's aesthetic allure.

"What's also in our favour is the exchange rate. If you look at the international market the exchange rate is the key factor for spend within a destination. Another reason is what visitors say. UK travellers voted Cape Town the best destination in the world," said Enver Duminy of the Cape Town Tourism Authority.

Bed and breakfast owners are also having a profitable time.

"The numbers are up, considerably on last year, and definitely on the year before. I would say this year, first half of the summer, October November December, turnover is 20% up," said B&B owner Gary Pentland-Smith.

The Cape's Tourism Authority says last year's airport arrivals were the highest on record, and this year's figures are expected to be even better.