Two categories. Two titles. One very proud Mother City. Cape Town has been named Africa's Leading City Destination 2026 and Africa's Leading Meetings & Conference Destination 2026 at last night’s World Travel Awards Africa Gala Ceremony at Diamonds Bijoux in Zanzibar.
Often called the Oscars of Tourism, the World Travel Awards are decided by a global vote of travel professionals, industry leaders and the travelling public, making a win less a trophy than a verdict. The industry was asked where it wanted to travel in Africa and where it wanted to do business. It named Cape Town twice.
That pairing is the key point. The two titles measure very different things, and few destinations anywhere have both. One is a vote for Table Mountain, the Atlantic coastline and a food and creative scene with no real equivalent on the continent. The other is a vote for the machinery underneath it: the venues, the hotel capacity, the professional services and the logistics that enable a city to host thousands of delegates and make it look effortless.
The result also arrives at a moment when Africa is travelling. Arrivals at Cape Town International Airport from elsewhere on the continent grew by 17% in 2025, faster than any other category, while foreign visitor spend in the city rose by 18% over the same period. The continent is not only being visited but also visiting.
"Winning one of these is a good night. Winning both is a statement," says Enver Duminy, CEO of Cape Town Tourism.
“Visitors come for the conference but stay longer for the conversation. Business tourism is a critical component of our tourism offering because the value of a business event extends far beyond the conference room. A visitor becomes a tourist, a trader and ultimately an investor. They experience our city, build relationships, discover opportunities and often return, bringing colleagues, friends and family with them. That is the real power of business tourism. When we combine a world-class meetings and events offering with everything that makes Cape Town such an extraordinary destination, we create reasons for people to stay longer, come back and do business here. That is a win for our visitors, our businesses and our city.”
James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth and Tourism, highlights what the win means beyond the trophy cabinet.
“Every visitor who chooses Cape Town supports a job here. Business events are among our most valuable visitors. They arrive midweek and out of season, spend across the city, and bring decision-makers who can return with investment. But we also need to keep making it easier for people to get here. We have 31 international destinations directly connected to Cape Town, and our focus is on growing that number, landing more flights, and strengthening our city-to-city relationships around the world. Recognition as Africa’s leading destination for both leisure and business tells global travellers, airlines, conference organisers, and investors that Cape Town is open, connected, and ready to welcome them.”
Cape Town's real advantage is that it does not ask visitors to choose. A delegate can close a conference in the afternoon and be on Table Mountain by evening, in the winelands the next morning, and at Cape Point the day after. This is a proposition very few cities anywhere can offer, and it keeps business travellers in the city longer than they planned.
Cape Town now advances to the World Travel Awards Grand Final later this year, competing against regional winners from every continent for the titles.
For now, though: two African titles, one extraordinary city, and another good moment for Cape Town and for Africa on the world stage.
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