187 Photo: Wesgro AFRICA: REPORT The gateway to Africa Regional efforts led by Wesgro have helped to develop Cape Town and the Western Cape as a standout destination for cruise visits Cape Town has been developed as a cruise destination through the Cruise Cape Town initiative Cape Town and the Western Cape province have emerged as an important cruise tourism destination on the African continent, reflecting both their unique offerings for visitors and the efforts undertaken as part of the region’s cruise development initiative, Cruise Cape Town. Led by official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency Wesgro, Cruise Cape Town aims to increase the region’s cruise market by supporting tourism and stimulating economic growth and job creation. The project is a public-private partnership established to connect key stakeholders of the cruise sector (both locally and globally) to resolve local challenges and develop new cruise itineraries for the region, thereby ensuring the destination offering is competitive. Situated at the tip of the African continent, the region is strategically positioned as the southern gateway to Africa, and Cape Town offers a wide combination of experiences for cruise lines and their guests. The city’s cruise terminal, run by V&A Waterfront, provides a smooth entry point that integrates modern amenities with a South African-inspired design. The terminal’s dedication to visitor experience was recognised with the title of ‘Africa’s Leading Cruise Port’ at the 2023 World Travel Awards. Although Cape Town is regarded as the main port of the province, the Western Cape is also home to Mossel Bay and Saldanha Bay, which are wellpositioned as additional ports of call. The three ports along the Western Cape coastline allow visitors to easily transition from the diverse experiences of Cape Town to the Western Cape’s nature reserves and wine farms. “ Cape Town offers a wide combination of experiences for cruise lines and their guests”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzQ1NTk=