On Friday, 20 March 2026, Swartland Tourism brought together members and industry partners at Delsma Farm in Riebeek Kasteel for our Annual Networking Event. The morning was about one thing: preparing for the opportunities ahead as the Cape Winelands Airport takes shape and international interest in the region grows.
The event brought two heavyweight tourism consultants to Swartland – Hanna Kleber (International Tourism Consultant and President of Corps Touristique) and Julia Kleber (CEO of the Kleber Group). Between them, they’ve spent over three decades working with destinations across Africa, including 21 years with South African Tourism. They know how to position regions in international markets and they came with a clear brief: help Swartland shift from day-trip territory to a destination people stay in.
Their presentation centered on the German market. Germany sends travelers who book months in advance, stay longer, spend more and travel during our shoulder seasons. Best agers (over 50s), solo travelers, and experience-led visitors interested in wine, food, hiking and rural culture – exactly the segments Swartland is built for.
Deon Cloete, Managing Director of Cape Winelands Airport, outlined the vision for the new airport and its expected impact on tourism and economic growth across the Swartland region. The airport positions the region not as an add-on to a Cape Town itinerary but as a primary base – and that changes everything about how tour operators package Swartland.
Throughout the presentations, one theme kept surfacing: Swartland offers something the more saturated parts of the Cape Winelands don’t. Authenticity. Space. A slower pace. Real connection to the land, the people and the product. That’s the story worth telling – and that’s what will bring travelers here for more than a day.
After the presentations, guests networked, discovered local products from Swartland businesses, and built the connections that will shape our region’s tourism future. The Mayor joined us to show support for our growing tourism sector and by the end of the morning it was clear: Swartland is ready to claim its place as a stay destination in its own right.
Thank you to everyone who attended, presented and made this event such a success.
View the full presentation from Hanna and Julia Kleber HERE and Deon Cloete’s Cape Winelands Airport presentation HERE.
