The arrival of the World Odyssey at the Port of Cape Town on 22 October 2024, officially launched South Africa’s 2024/25 cruise season. Sailing under the Bahamian flag, the World Odyssey brought 538 international tourists, initiating a season anticipated to bring approximately 130,000 tourists to Cape Town.
Growth in Scheduled Ship Arrivals
This season will see 268 scheduled passenger liners across seven South African commercial seaports managed by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), marking a growth from last year’s 207 call-ins.
Economic Impact: A Billion-Rand Boost
Cape Town’s growing stature in the global cruise market is backed by strong economic contributions from the industry. According to Wesgro, the cruise sector brought R1.32 billion to the Western Cape economy in the 2023-24 season, an increase from R1.2 billion in the previous year. These figures underscore the resilience and strength of Cape Town’s cruise industry, even as global economic challenges persist. Expenditures by vessels, passengers, and crew reached R1.5 billion, supporting 1,965 jobs across sectors such as retail, hospitality, and tourism services, showing how integral the cruise industry is to the local economy.
Cruise Cape Town, driven by Wesgro, celebrated the new season’s official launch at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Wesgro’s latest report, the Western Cape Cruise Liner Industry 2023-24 Season Report, offered a comprehensive overview of last season, which ran from November 2023 to June 2024. Despite a slight drop in the number of ship calls – from 70 the previous year to 67—the economic impact saw a significant increase, reflecting the high spending power of cruise passengers. Ship calls are a crucial metric for the cruise industry, as they correlate closely with tourism revenue generated in the region.
Record-Breaking Passenger and Crew Expenditure
For the 2023-24 season, spending by international passengers and cruise lines reached R715 million and R713 million, respectively, with additional contributions from domestic passengers and crew. This expenditure generated a total R1.32 billion boost for the Western Cape economy and a R1.69 billion contribution to South Africa’s GDP.
The cruise season’s impact extends well beyond financial metrics, creating jobs and stimulating the local economy. Last season, 1,096 full-time equivalent jobs were directly generated, with the multiplier effect bringing the total to 1,965 jobs across sectors such as retail, hospitality, port services, transportation, and water provision. Retail, driven by passenger spending on local goods, accounted for 47% of these jobs, while hotels and restaurants made up 31%.
Reflecting on these results, Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander highlighted the industry’s strength and value: “The 2023-24 season has reinforced Cape Town and the Western Cape’s standing as a premier destination for international cruise lines. The R1.32 billion injection into the Western Cape economy showcases the sector’s resilience and its consistent value to businesses and communities across the province.”
As the 2024-25 season progresses, Cape Town’s commitment to providing a world-class experience for cruise passengers and operators positions it as a top African cruise destination. The city’s location on one of the world’s busiest routes, supported by TNPA’s reliable marine services, ensures Cape Town’s standing as a preferred cruise destination while driving sustained growth and job creation across the region.
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