Travel and trade facilitation agency, Wesgro, has launched Cruise Cape Town, a collaborative project that seeks to grow the cruise economy in Cape Town and the Western Cape.

The project will fall under Wesgro’s Special Projects Unit and is focused on domestic and international cruise route development in the province.

The cruise industry has been a focus of the City of Cape Town’s recovery plan since the early stages of lockdown in April.

Despite the current lockdown and travel restrictions, the team is hopeful for the cruise season to recommence from October 2021, with 83 confirmed bookings already secured for cruise ships to the V&A Waterfront this year.

Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier, commented: “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. We are open and ready to safely welcome cruise passengers to Cape Town and the Western Cape.”

Culminating as the focal point for domestic and international cruise route development in the province, the project was a collaboration between partners in both the public and private sectors, including Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism; the City of Cape Town (CoCT); V&A Waterfront; Transnet National Ports Authority; the South African Maritime Safety Authority; and Wesgro.

Mpumi Dweba-Kwetana, Port Manager, Port of Cape Town, said: "This will result in an increased number of vessels calling at the port. 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."

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, which celebrates our culture and heritage through food, ensures that we give international visitors a true Cape Town welcome."

Noting that the cruise economy offered an additional dimension to Cape Town’s offering, Mayoral Committee Member: Economic Opportunities and Asset Management for the CoCT, James Vos, said: “This will enhance 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.”

Wesgro's official spokesperson for Cruise Cape Town, Chief Strategy Officer, Labeeqah Schuurman, said: “Reflecting on the successes of the Air Access Project, there is huge potential for Cruise Cape Town to increase regional tourism, create jobs in both downstream and upstream industries and boost investment into Cape Town and the Western Cape.

“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 intention being to create jobs and drive economic growth in the province.”

The Port of Cape Town recently underwent a R59 million (€3.5m) re-development, with a dedicated Cruise Terminal now established at the V&A Waterfront.