Emirates, Wesgro partner to boost Western Cape tourism

Emirates and Wesgro have formalised a partnership aimed at significantly boosting inbound tourism to Cape Town and the Western Cape, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of World Travel Market (WTM) Africa in the Mother City this week.

The partnership seeks to leverage the airline’s expansive global network to align with the province’s “growth for jobs” strategy.

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The agreement focuses on driving visitor traffic from high-potential regions, including the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, the Far East, and India via Emirates’ air hub Dubai.

By promoting the region’s diverse cultural and natural attractions, the partnership aims to accelerate the momentum of a tourism sector that saw Cape Town International Airport handle a record 11.1 million passengers in 2025.

Afzal Parambil, Emirates’ regional manager for Southern Africa, highlighted the city’s importance to the airline’s broader strategy, saying: “Cape Town is one of our most visited and most consistently in-demand destinations on our African network.”

He noted that the partnership showcases the “steadfast commitment” of the airline to South Africa as it prepares to scale up local operations.

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Central to this tourism push is the planned introduction of a third daily frequency to Cape Town, which will be served by Emirates’ newest aircraft, the Airbus A350.

This expansion makes South Africa the only nation on the continent served by all three of the airline’s current aircraft types: the A380, the retrofitted Boeing 777, and the next-generation A350.

Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander emphasised that such high-level collaborations are essential for maintaining the region’s competitive edge. “Partnerships with organisations such as Emirates offer system-scale opportunities to engage global stakeholders and accelerate this momentum,” she said.

Stander added that the agency remains focused on positioning the Western Cape as a premium destination for both business and leisure.

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Boosting cargo too

The partnership extends its economic impact into the trade sector through Emirates SkyCargo.

The airline currently facilitates the rapid transport of high-value South African perishables, including fruits, vegetables, chilled meats, and fresh-cut flowers, from Cape Town to global markets with turnaround times as low as 24 to 48 hours.

This logistics support serves as a critical link for local businesses, further integrating the Western Cape economy into the global supply chain.

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