The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management, Alderman James Vos, recently participated in the launch of Cruise Cape Town, an initiative located within Wesgro, that will position Cape Town as the preferred destination for cruise liners.

‘When Council adopted our Tourism Development Framework in 2019, an important feature of our proposition was to promote Cape Town as a top destination for the cruise industry and to connect with other port cities across the globe. It gives me great pleasure to have all the industry bodies come together and help our city reach its full potential in the cruise market,’ said Alderman Vos.

In the last few years, before the pandemic, the city’s cruise industry witnessed significant growth year-on-year. In 2012, 6 050 passengers arrived on cruise ships in the Mother City and by the 2018-2019 season, this figure reached 52 580.

The dedicated cruise terminal, funded by the V&A Waterfront and launched in 2018, helped tap cruise tourism opportunities even more.

‘This sector has the potential to grow even further with huge economic spin-offs for the city, and its people. These economic benefits arise from several sources such as the spending power by cruise passengers and crew, shore-side staffing by cruise liners for tour operations, the spending by cruise liners for goods and services necessary for cruise operations, and the spending for port services and maintenance.

‘As global markets and industries start to emerge from the pandemic and with tourists itching to travel again, this is a critical time to activate platforms that will re-ignite tourism in Cape Town and make it better than ever,’ said Alderman Vos. 

Source: City Of Cape Town