Cape Town - The Cape Town Partnership is adding a seventh drawcard to the city’s top tourist attractions – a City Walk that will bring people from all communities back to the CBD to shop, eat and mingle.
About 40 percent of Cape Town’s annual business turnover is generated in the central city, making this an important commercial hub.
Cape Town Partnership chief executive officer Bulelwa Makalima-Ngewana, announced the new attraction at Wednesday’s annual general meeting.
Although conceptualised by the Cape Town Partnership, the final route will be decided with input from the public, including formal and informal retailers, residents, students and entrepreneurs.
“We envision a team of stakeholders who will be able to engage with us about the narrative of this route.
“We want it to be authentic, and to include diverse voices and perspectives.”
The Partnership has started to map out a route, but is still open to input and personal accounts of the significance of city landmarks via e-mail at: [email protected] or social media at #CityWalkCT.
A proposed route would start at the Company’s Garden, move down Government Avenue and St George’s Mall before heading to the Fan Walk and the Prestwich Memorial.
Makalima-Ngewana said the route would offer free wireless and informative signage to “peel back the layers of Cape Town’s hidden stories”.
The route would also encourage the city to provide more public ablution facilities along the way. Permanent and temporary art, food trucks and other street food options, and various events would create a lively, public space.
Tim Harris, of the City of Cape Town’s investment directorate, said the walk would give visitors an accessible and coherent way to experience the city.
“For locals, such a route can open up the city, provide a sense of inclusivity and encourage the sense of Cape Town being a ‘crossroads’ or meeting point across divergent histories, cultures and demographics.”
While the City Walk responds to the global tourism demand for authentic urban experiences, it will also encourage more people to spend time in the city after dark.
Urban and cultural tourism account for about 70 percent of international tourist activity, said the Partnership. This means that city brands are having to find innovative ways to attract visitors.
“The Cape Town Partnership envisions the route as an extension of the daytime foot traffic in the area, with spin-offs for the surrounding businesses, residents and commuters,” said Makalima-Ngewana.
Cape Argus