Multi-billion rand investment for Western Cape tourism sector
A R2 billion investment into the Western Cape will add over 500 hotel rooms in Cape Town’s city centre.
Alan Winde, MEC of Economic Opportunities, today (6 October 2016), attended a sod turning to unveil Marriott International’s plan to construct three new hotels in Cape Town.
In a partnership with the Amdec Group, Marriott International, will develop the following properties:
- The 200-room Cape Town Marriott Hotel Foreshore
- The 189-room AC Hotel Cape Town Waterfront, to be located at the Yacht Club in the Roggebaai precinct
- The 150-room Residence Inn by Marriott Cape Town Foreshore
MEC Winde welcomed the developments, adding that it a major boost for job creation in the province.
“This investment by Marriott International, a leading international brand, is excellent news for our tourism sector. I would like to thank the group for their business confidence in the Western Cape. Tourism is our fastest-growing sector, and through the Western Cape’s Project Khulisa growth strategy, we are seeking to add up to a further 100 000 jobs to this sector. To reach this goal, we launched the Cape Town Air Access strategy to make it easier for tourists to visit us. We’ve added over 400 000 direct two-way seats between our region and key international markets.
“The expansion of the Cape Town International Convention Centre is also set to double the centre’s existing exhibition capacity. We will see an increase in the number and size of conferences, resulting in more business travellers to our region. Developments such as Marriott International’s three new hotels will cater to the Western Cape’s projected increase in business tourism.”
In a press statement released by Marriott International, Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Middle East and Africa for Marriott International, said: “The significance of this announcement for both the city of Cape Town and for South Africa cannot be underestimated.
The developments in both Cape Town and Johannesburg confirm the country’s importance to the international travel market – for both the business and leisure traveller. From the perspective of tourism, the addition of three hotels in Cape Town, catering for different market segments among both international and domestic visitors, will strengthen the position of the city as one of the world’s top destinations, and we are confident that Cape Town will gain huge benefits from the likely increase in visitor numbers expected in the future.”
Enquiries:
Bronwynne Jooste
Spokesperson: Alan Winde, MEC of Economic Opportunities
Tel: 021 483 3550
Cell: 060 970 4301
Email: bronwynne.jooste@westerncape.gov.za
