Cape Town Named Top City by UK Travellers, Flight Centre Data Shows

In a remarkable nod to the beauty and appeal of Cape Town, travelers from the United Kingdom have endorsed the South African metropolis with a near-perfect satisfaction rating of 98%. This announcement comes from new data released by Flight Centre, solidifying Cape Town's position as a premium global destination.

Flight Centre's study offers a comprehensive overview of consumer travel preferences, examining the scores given to airlines and destinations across the world. Locally, the data showcases a high level of satisfaction among South Africans for domestic airlines, with Airlink leading the chart at 89%, followed by South African Airways (SAA) at 87% and FlySafair close on its heels at 86%.

Sue Garrett from Flight Centre notes that the high rating of Perth as a favorite city among South African travelers and Australia as the top country is to be expected. Strong VFR connections make the country particularly appealing, and upcoming direct flights from Johannesburg to Perth further enhance the appeal, offering greater convenience for those wishing to visit friends and relatives down under.

The global travel market also has its distinct preferences, with Perth earning the highest satisfaction score internationally at 96%, and Portugal emerging as the most recommended country. The data underlines that consumers don't always gravitate towards traditionally popular destinations; instead, cultural richness, historical architecture, and friendly local interactions have considerable allure, boosting destinations like Portugal and the Cook Islands to the top of the list.

Australia's impressive showing as the third-most recommended country is noteworthy, with cities such as Brisbane and Melbourne securing their spots among the top ten global cities. Similarly, New Zealand has marked its appeal with Queenstown and Christchurch being favored destinations.

Andrew Stark, Flight Centre Global Managing Director, accentuates that while these findings highlight a diverse array of travel preferences, it's evident that some less conventionally popular destinations offer unique and cherished experiences to travelers, making them hidden gems in a world eager to explore.

These insights gathered from over 170,000 customer responses within the past year reflect the evolving landscape of global travel preferences, influencing the travel industry's approach to future market trends and consumer desires.