Cape Town - Airbnb has revealed the small town of Ceres in the Western Cape to be one of South Africa’s top 10 trending destinations for in-country travel, alongside the Eastern Cape’s Queenstown and Mpumalanga’s Witbank, all of which are attracting domestic travellers in droves.
The results of an Airbnb survey show hosting using the online booking platform is proving to be an economic lifeline for thousands of South African families looking to make ends meet.
The study showed domestic travel was thriving, with bookings in the first half of this year up about 65% compared with the same time in 2019.
Queenstown in the Eastern Cape is the top trending town in South Africa, having seen an approximately 245% increase in domestic stays in the first half of 2022 compared with the same time in 2019.
The other small towns on the list were Mahikeng in the North West, Middelburg in the Eastern Cape, Polokwane in Limpopo, Cullinan in Gauteng, Brakpan in Gauteng, Mankoeng in Limpopo, and Midrand in Gauteng.
Ceres, a mere 150km or 90 minutes’ drive from Cape Town, in the heart of the Cape Winelands, is the gateway to the Cederberg area and Route 62.
The region is home to some of South Africa’s best vineyards, and there are wine tours and unique stays throughout the town that can be discovered in Airbnb’s vineyard category.
Airbnb’s Middle East Africa regional director Velma Corcoran said domestic travel was thriving again following a volatile few years owing to the pandemic.
She said that bookings in the first half of this year were up approximately 65% compared with the same time in 2019.
Locals were searching for hidden gems in all parts of the country, while the increased flexibility of remote work had seen people staying longer at their travel destinations.
“As many South Africans battle rising living costs, local travel is helping to support hosts and businesses in the communities they call home.”
MPL Wendy Kaizer-Philander, who represents the area at the provincial legislature said: "What a wonderful accolade to receive. We are very proud that our town is recognized as a top Airbnb destination.”.
She said the Witzenberg Municipality had to be commended for the work done to enable a local economic environment that was conducive to growing the tourism sector.
Standing Committee for Finance, Economic Opportunities and Tourism chairperson Cayla Murray said the domestic tourism industry has been recovering at a faster rate than international tourism, but this is just a taste of what is to come during our summer season.
Murray said: “The Western Cape is expecting the tourism industry to surpass even pre-Covid-19 numbers next year, which is good news for the tourism industry, but also for the province's economic recovery as a whole.”
mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za
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