Cruise tourism in Africa has a fantastic potential, but infrastructure constraints are restricting its development, speakers at the Seatrade African Cruise Forum said earlier this week, reports Business Report.

Poor infrastructure at ports, poor safety and security, high port fees, unclear berthing policies, political instability, few shore excursions, poor service, and distances between destinations were mentioned as deterrents to the development of cruise tourism on our continent.

MSC Cruises is the most frequent user of South African ports with its cruise liners, and has called on Transnet to build a dedicated cruise liner terminal in Durban.   A poor port facility reflects badly on the destination as well as on the cruise company, they say.   Cruise liner guests do not wish to get on board a liner if they have to wait, and that is what happens at some South African ports.  Transnet is investigating the viability of a dedicated cruise liner terminal for Durban.  If found to be feasible and financially viable, the terminal could be completed by July 2015, Transnet has stated.  The industry wants a facility that can berth two boats simultaneously, and can accommodate 5000 passengers.

Piracy too is a deterrent to cruise liners supporting African ports, such as Tanzania, Kenya and the Seychelles.  The cost of insurance if the Indian Ocean is included in a cruise itinerary appears to be prohibitive, as a result.  Expensive South African port costs, said to be amongst the highest in the world, do not help this country’s tourism cause, and are another deterrent. 

Cruise tourism is a vital injection to tourism income, and the authorities are encouraged to address the quality of the port facilities in Durban and Cape Town, to attract more cruise liners to our country, especially given the disposable income of the typical cruise liner tourist.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio:  www.whalecottage.com  Twitter: @WhaleCottage