Cape Town’s cruise terminal is expecting and ready to welcome at least 239 cruise liners before May 2023. The Hanseatic Spirit was the first passenger ship to dock in Cape Town in October of this year.
Also read: Look! Cape Town’s booming cruise season is ready to set sail
Both Cape Town and Durban rely on cruise liners and the tourism spending they bring into the cities to boost local economies. Cape Town spent over R80 million upgrading its cruise terminal, winning the title of Africa’s Best Cruise Terminal in 2022, while Durban spent R200 million upgrading its cruise terminal in 2019. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, these new upgrades could not be used.
James Vos, the City’s Mayoral Committee for Economic Growth, estimates that cruise ships generate R100 million in total revenue for each port visit from passenger spending. Vos continued, calling this a “true win-win for Cape Town and the CBD,” noting that one job is created “for every 12 cruise tourists arriving in Cape Town.”
Tasso Evangelinos, CEO of the Cape Town Central City Improvement District, said that “the return of ocean liners to our shores is very heartening news as they bring thousands of visitors to our city.”
He continued, “The cruise economy complements the hospitality industry in greater Cape Town and the Central City, as these visitors stay in our hotels and guest houses, thereby boosting various economic tourism sectors.”
“We look forward to welcoming the liners and their guests to our shores and our CBD.”
Also read:
Picture: Unsplash