Cape Town Cruise Terminal says recent award win will spur cruise sector growth

Cape Town Cruise Terminal says its recent win of ‘Africa’s Leading Cruise Port 2023’ at the prestigious World Travel Awards will further uplift the local tourism market.

Cape Town won the award on the back of the busiest cruise season ever for South Africa’s primary cruise port during the 2022/23 season.

Now cruise tourism officials in the city are hoping to use the award win to spur further investment and growth in the local cruise industry.

Spokesperson for the V&A Waterfront Cape Town Donald Kau, highlighted the terminal’s significant contribution to the regional economy, including job creation and a substantial cash injection by foreign cruise passengers.

Kau emphasised the pivotal role of the cruise terminal in fostering both economic and employment growth, with the cruise terminal alone creating 2,000 direct and indirect jobs.

As the primary gatewat to the Western Cape for more than 100 cruise ship calls annually, the cruise terminal also facilitates an inflow of more than R1.2 billion into the local economy every year, with further growth expected for the 2023/24 cruise season. 

This substantial infusion of capital has not only bolstered the local economy, but has also contributed to the overall development of Cape Town’s tourism sector by encouraging investment in subsidiary sectors.

“The World Travel Award is a prestigious accolade that recognises the finest in travel, tourism, and hospitality brands across the Indian Ocean,” said Kau. 

“Through the operation of the Waterfront’s cruise terminal, we recognise the enormous potential it holds for achieving our tourism goals,” he added. “As such, we are committed to extending a world-class experience for all visitors.”

Cape Town’s cruise season runs annually between November and March. During the most recent season, 140,000 cruise tourists arrived on 70 cruise ship calls, injecting more than R1.4 billion into the Western Cape economy and creating 1,800 new jobs.

According to Western Cape tourism officials, this underscores the high demand for the destination while also demonstrating Cape Town’s ability to manage the infrastructure requirements thanks to the newly renovated Cape Town Cruise Terminal.

Cruise officials in Cape Town are bullish on the city’s cruise future, noting that the cruise sector remains largely untapped and has only just begun to demonstrate the huge benefits it can provide for the local economy.