CAPE TOWN – The Mother City has received a double dose of international acclaim this week, securing prestigious recognition from two major travel publications just as the festive season tourism rush begins.
Cape Town claimed the Best City – Editor’s Choice (International Category) award at the Travel and Leisure India’s Best Awards 2025, while simultaneously earning a spot as the 5th Best Place to Visit in Africa in the US News & World Report’s Best Vacations List 2025, complete with a Gold Award Badge of Excellence.
The announcements, made on Tuesday, 16 December, provide a significant boost to the city’s tourism profile as it enters one of its busiest periods of the year.
Indian market recognition
The Travel and Leisure India award represents a particularly strategic victory for Cape Town’s tourism authorities, who have been actively courting the Indian market through targeted campaigns throughout 2025.
Briony Brookes, Cape Town Tourism’s Chief Marketing Officer, expressed pride in the recognition: “This is a proud moment for Cape Town. Being recognised by Travel and Leisure India’s editors reflects the city’s energy, diversity, and the types of experiences visitors carry with them long after they’ve gone.”
The award ceremony also recognised several Cape Town properties, with the President Hotel winning Best Leisure Hotel, Ellerman House named Best Luxury Boutique Hotel, and Grootbos Private Nature Reserve near Gansbaai receiving Best Sustainable Hotel recognition.
Indian travellers, described by Brookes as “curious, experience-focused, and increasingly global,” represent a growing market segment that Cape Town is actively pursuing through strategic marketing initiatives.
American acclaim follows
The US News & World Report ranking highlighted Cape Town’s diverse attractions, citing the city’s “dramatic scenery, beaches, Constantia Valley wine region, and Simon’s Town penguin colony” as key factors in its 5th place African ranking.
The publication’s evaluation process incorporates both editorial scores and user votes, making the recognition a reflection of both expert opinion and traveller experience.
James Vos, the City’s Mayco member for economic growth, emphasised the strategic importance of these awards: “These efforts are deliberate. Growing visitor numbers grows our tourism economy. Every booking translates into real economic spin-offs for local businesses and, ultimately, more jobs for Capetonians.”
The double recognition validates Cape Town’s targeted marketing approach, which has included social media activations and billboard campaigns in key Indian cities throughout 2025.
Earlier this year, the City of Cape Town engaged directly with tourism operators and media in India to promote the destination and establish strategic partnerships, laying the groundwork for increased visitor numbers from this emerging market.
The timing of these awards couldn’t be better, coinciding with Cape Town’s peak tourism season when the city showcases its summer appeal to international visitors.
Cape Town’s tourism authorities are already planning the next phase of their Indian market strategy, with new marketing campaigns scheduled to launch next year. These initiatives will continue focusing on stimulating both supply and demand for travel to the Mother City.
Vos noted that the recognition reflects Cape Town’s appeal to “experience-focused” travellers who appreciate the city’s unique combination of quality attractions, rich culture, and diverse offerings.
As the festive season unfolds, these international accolades provide Cape Town with enhanced credibility in competitive global tourism markets, positioning the city for continued growth in visitor numbers and economic benefits for local businesses and job creation.
The awards reinforce Cape Town’s status as a world-class destination capable of attracting discerning international travellers seeking authentic, memorable experiences.
