q Population 2002 - approx. 140 000
Future Population scenario 2005 :184 108
2010 : 239 000 (100 000 future residents in next 8 yrs)

q Since 1996, furniture exports to UK and US dominated exports from George, contributing 85% of total exports in 1998. Other exports from agriculture and forestry, eg. edible vegetables (11%), and trees and/or flowers and live animals (2%).

q Approx. 80% of all overseas imports to George originate from Europe and North America. Precision tools and machinery for the manufacturing industry dominate at 71% of total imports in 1998. Wood products contributed 20%.

q OUTPUTS : Agriculture and Forestry - contributes 11%/ employs 4500 people Manufacturing Sector - contributes 13%/ employs 5300 Construction Sector - contributes 8%/ employs 3500 Service Sector (Public Sector) - contributes 23%/ employs 8000

q TOURISM plays a considerable role in the economy of George, both as a tourist destination in its own right and as a service centre to tourists travelling in the Southern Cape.

1998 - Total Tourists approx. 84 000, 51% domestic tourists/ 49% foreign, majority from UK and Germany.

Foreign Tourists spend on average 10 times more than their domestic counterparts.
1998 - Foreign Tourists spent R100m/ Domestic R10m