Wesgro is actively working on attracting cruise liners to Cape Town, and has proudly announced the booked arrival of 83 cruise liners before the end of this year. The local cruise season is set to begin in October.

Last year it launched Cruise Cape Town, a collaboration between a number of role players such as Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT); the City of Cape Town (CoCT); V&A Waterfront; Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA); the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA); and Wesgro.

A Wesgro media statement shared the following about the Cruise Cape Town initiative:

#.  The Port of Cape Town recently underwent a R59 million re-development, with a dedicated Cruise Terminal now established at the V&A Waterfront.

#  The key goals of Cruise Cape Town are:

➡Increase the cruise liner economy in Cape Town and the Western Cape
➡Improve the province’s competitiveness in the cruise industry
Drive tourism in order to stimulate economic growth and job creation, particularly for the youth

Mpumi Dweba-Kwetana, Port Manager, Port of Cape Town, said: “TNPA Port of Cape Town is in support of the Cruise Cape Town initiative, it will result in an increase in number of vessels calling at the port and in the number of passengers disembarking and embarking at the terminal. Overall this initiative will reduce unemployment and poverty in our country as there will be more industries that will benefit from the increased number of vessel calls.”

The Waterfront created Maker’s Landing adjacent to the Cruise Terminal, giving cruise tourists a first taste of Cape Town’s Food and Beverage Culture.  David Green, CEO of the V&A Waterfront, said: “We have constructed a world-class terminal that has improved the total experience for cruise passengers and successfully integrated it into our service amenities such as hotels, attractions, and retail offerings. Being adjacent to Makers Landing, our new food community that celebrate our culture and heritage through food ensures that we give international visitors a true Cape Town welcome. We feel this will enhance the desirability of the port and Cape Town as a destination for cruise.”

Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier said: “We are proud to be partners of Cruise Cape Town, which is an exciting initiative by Wesgro to support the tourism sector and promote Cape Town and the Western Cape as a destination of choice for cruise passengers. While cruises have not yet resumed, the pre-Covid trajectory of the sector as well as the continued interest of travellers to book cruises and travel as soon as it is safe to do so, means that rebuilding the cruise sector in the Western Cape is a key opportunity for us now. We are open and ready to safely welcome cruise passengers to Cape Town and the Western Cape.”

“The cruise economy offers an additional dimension to Cape Town’s world-class offering, enhancing our global tourism links while putting us on the map as a turnaround port where crew and passengers take flights back home or join the cruises. Extended stays in Cape Town mean increased revenue not only for our tourism value chain, but also for local suppliers of the cruise eco-system, I am happy that we are strengthening our economic recovery efforts through this collaboration,” added Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member: Economic Opportunities and Asset Management in the City of Cape Town.

Wesgro’s official spokesperson for Cruise Cape Town, Chief Strategy Officer, Labeeqah Schuurman, concluded: “Reflecting on the successes of the Air Access Project, the potential Cruise Cape Town has to increase regional tourism, create jobs in both downstream and upstream industries and boost investment into Cape Town and the Western Cape is unsurmountable. Our vision remains to not only make the Western Cape the gateway to the rest of Africa, but the easiest place to do business on the continent. We look forward to seeing the fruits that will come from this strategic partnership, with our intent on being creating jobs and driving economic growth in the province.”

In these times of Tourism Doom and Gloom the Cruise Cape Town collaboration is excellent news, giving every person involved in Tourism some hope for the future.

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.whaletalesblog.com  www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide