The City of Cape Town is encouraging visitors and especially locals to explore the city’s many undiscovered tourism gems this summer.
Newly appointed mayoral committee member for economic opportunities and asset management, councillor James Vos, recently went on a walking tour of Khayelitsha for a first-hand experience of what’s on offer.
Cape Town is best known globally for its big six attractions, which include the V&A Waterfront, Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, Cape Point, Groot Constantia, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and Robben Island.
But there is a whole host of undiscovered and budget-friendly things to do outside the city.
The City, in partnership with Cape Town Tourism, have embarked on an initiative to showcase local neighbourhood businesses and to inspire travel to these areas as part of the new ‘Pocket-friendly Cape Town’ campaign #pocketfriendlycapetown.
Mr Vos and Cape Town Tourism CEO, Enver Duminy, on Friday December 14 embarked on a walking tour of Khayelitsha and met up with Juma Mkwela, founder and owner of Juma’s Art Tours and founder of the new Khayelitsha Art Hub.
The Art Hub provides a space for the community’s children to enjoy afternoon art lessons, funded by Juma’s Township Art Tours.
Visitors are encouraged to contribute towards enhancing the community by painting murals or planting home gardens.
The whistle-stop tour then visited Golden Flowers, a company that’s motivated by sustainable manufacturing of flowers from recycled materials.
Up next was ABCD Concepts, a tour company with a difference that offers bicycle tours, jogging through the neighbourhood and nights out at some of Khayelitsha’s hippest taverns and dance halls.
Mr Vos also visited 4Roomed eKasi Culture, a vibrant eatery owned and run by former MasterChef SA contestant Abigail Mbalo-Mokoena. The restaurant offers some remarkable cuisine and visitors get to enjoy a meal on a charming terrace.
Both ABCD Concepts and 4Roomed eKasi Culture are the most recent recipients of Cape Town Tourism Board’s Development Fund which provides support and mentorship to promising, innovative businesses operated by historically disadvantaged individuals.
The final stop was Siki’s Koffee Kafe, where Khayelitsha’s creatives meet to exchange ideas. Siki worked on expanding the Vida franchise in London and now he has brought coffee culture to Khayelitsha.
Mr Vos said, “The City is committed to diversifying our tourism landscape in Cape Town by promoting products and attractions throughout the city and, by so doing, breaking the perception that tourism is only centered in certain parts of the city and around the Big 6 attractions. It’s always inspiring to meet passionate and determined local business owners in their own neighbourhoods.”
The City has also prioritised visitor safety over the festive season.