Makers Landing in Cape Town set to get boost from 239 cruise ships this season

Makers Landing, a V&A Waterfront “food community” within Cape Town Cruise Terminal, is looking to the current cruise season to provide a much-needed boost amid the ongoing recovery from COVID-19.

Makers Landing was initially developed to capitalise on port-visiting cruise tourists, but opened in 2020, just as South Africa’s second wave of COVID-19 began to peak, and faced further disruption in 2021 due to the Omicron variant.

The R63-million multi-use development pivoted to attracting locals, but the V&A Waterfront is hoping that much-missed incoming tourists will boost Makers Landing in the coming months, according to Business Insider.

Local diners cant compete with the spending power of North American and European cruise tourists, with every 12 passengers who come ashore in Cape Town providing at least one local job (on average), according to Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, James Vos.

“The return of ocean liners to our shores is very heartening news as they bring thousands of visitors to our city,” added Tasso Evangelinos, CEO of the Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID).

“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.”

The cruise industry injects around R100 million into the Cape Town economy annually, and is expected to see further growth in the coming years following massive local investment in cruise infrastructure.

Cape Town has upgraded its award-winning cruise terminal to the tune of R80 million, while MSC Cruises and a KZN-based consortium have invested in the development of the new KZN Cruise Terminal in Durban.

The R200-million development was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but is now fully operational and has already resulted in ever-larger cruise ships homeporting in the city.

More than 239 cruise ships are expected to dock in Cape Town before May 2023, with the first passenger vessel, Hanseatic Spirit, already having arrived in October to signal the start of the season.

Makers Landing provides international cruise tourists with an authentic taste of South Africa, as it features localbudding food entrepreneurs, providing a space for them to innovate, learn and grow their businesses.

There are gourmet options, fine dining offers, artistic cuisine and simple, classic South African fare like shisanyama, samosas, koesisters and gatsbys.