Even though no figures have been recorded, property developers and real estate agents have found that many tourists have purchased property to use as either holiday homes or permanent residence for those considering moving to the city.
According to Cape Town Tourism, the city sees a boost of approximately 49% of visitors from other parts of the Western Cape coming into the city because of the season coinciding with the school holidays, and with 9% of these visitors being regional and the rest international. The most recent figures (September 2015 compared to the same period in 2014) shows an increase of 11.3% in arrivals to the city at over 380k visitors for the month. These figures show that arrivals to Cape Town are growing year on year, for the domestic, regional and international markets.
"Cape Town remains a world-class destination for tourism with many attractions. Locals also choose to spend their holidays here so the city becomes very busy. In August 2015 there was a 13% growth and for regional aircraft arrival movements 89% growth year-on-year. This was matched by a 6% growth in international passengers and 9% growth in regional passengers," says Enver Duminy, CEO of Cape Town Tourism.
Urban property developer, Blok's marketing manager, Lior van Embden says that there is definitely a noticeable swell in terms of people coming into the city, with restaurants being fuller and traffic being a bit denser. "These are all positive changes and are things that Capetonians should welcome as they signal a huge desirability for Cape Town as both a local and international destination."
However, for some, Cape Town begins to feel more like home and not just a place that they escape to when they have extra time on their hands - this prompting them to consider owning more than just a souvenir of the city. "There has definitely been an increase in repeat visitors to Cape Town who see the city as a home away from home. These are generally tourists who start considering purchasing property for future visits, especially in light of the of the ever more favourable currency exchange," says van Embden.
Laurie Werner, Western Cape, MD, Pam Golding Properties, says that the tourists who consider purchasing property are usually those who have visited the city more than once. "After a trip or two, people find they get to know a place better and this helps them to make an informed decision when it comes to making such a commitment."
As the city grows in terms of bodies coming in, Cape Town not only provides visitors with memories but the opportunity to own a piece of it.
