Yesterday (November 29) the City of Cape Town (CCT) announced the expansion of its Tourism Safety Unit, while the Western Cape Government (WCG) launched its own Tourism Safety Unit with Chrysalis Academy graduates.
Tourism is a major contributor to both Cape Town and the Western Cape’s economy and provides significant job and skills development opportunities for residents.
The units will, respectively, focus on ensuring that residents and visitors receive important safety information about tourist attractions and services available, as well as co-ordinate the optimal emergency deployment of resources and technology in tourism hotspot areas frequented by both local and international tourists.
“Visible policing is the most effective crime prevention activity, and the members of this unit will join the thousands of additional law enforcement officers we have deployed across the whole of Cape Town this year. We are expecting a bumper tourism season and we are doing everything we can to make sure that thousands of locals and international guests, can safely enjoy the summer season in our beautiful City,” said Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis.
The City of Cape Town’s Tourism Safety Unit will now have 28 law enforcement officers, while the Western Cape Government unit will comprise 26 Chrysalis graduates.
Visible foot patrols will be conducted at the Table Mountain Cableway, Lion’s Head hiking trails, curb opportunistic pickpockets and petty criminals at car parks and other high-traffic tourism hotspots within the CBD.
Should a tourist be a victim of contact crime, they will be able to provide a statement at their accommodation to City Tourism Unit officers, instead of at an SAPS station. Trauma counselling is offered and if travel documentation such as passports are stolen, the process to acquire an emergency passport is activated through links with consulates.
“The City unit has already achieved a considerable amount of success, coupled with the integrated CCTV support of the newly established Fusion Centre. With the added additional resources set to bolster the unit, we are confident we can again boast Cape Town as one of the world’s top travel destinations,’ said JP Smith, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security.
Successes
Smith noted that in the 2021/2022 financial year, the City’s Tourism Safety Unit made 15 arrests, assisted nearly 2 300 people with general matters, and attended to 854 complaints.
The units focus on tourism locations such as:
· Long Street
· V&A Waterfront
· Cape Town International Convention Centre
· Table Mountain Cableway
· Lion’s Head trails
· Grand Parade
“Through creative campaigns in key source markets, together with strategic collaborations that have helped to land more flights than ever at Cape Town International Airport, as well as thousands of cruise travellers, the Mother City is going to be buzzing with local and international tourists.
“The City has also worked consistently with partners to ensure that communities and attractions are ready to welcome visitors. This increase in tourism will boost the local economy and create job opportunities for many more Capetonians,” said James Vos, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth.
The Western Cape Government has allocated just over R280 000 (€16 470) for the deployment of the Chrysalis graduates until the end of February next year.
Recovery continues
“I am also very pleased to share that the impressive tourism recovery in the Western Cape, continues. Based on our monthly tourism report, I can now confirm that Cape Town International Airport’s international terminal has hit a recovery rate of 83% this October, compared with October 2019,” said Western Cape Minister for Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger.
“George Airport is almost fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, reaching 90%, and we saw footfall at 17 participating tourism attractions in the Western Cape recording a year-on-year growth in visitors of 128%, reaching a recovery rate of 65% when compared with October 2019.”
