Cape Town Sees Record Thirty-five Percent Growth In Cruise Tourism For 2024/25 Season, Expanding Economic Impact In The Western Cape And Beyond

Published on September 14, 2025

Cape Town’s cruise tourism manufacture has knowledgeable singular growth, marking a record-breaking 35% summation successful gross for nan 2024/25 season. This surge successful maturation stems from an 18% emergence successful cruise vessel arrivals and a 16% summation successful rider numbers, fueling important economical description crossed nan Western Cape. According to caller reports, Cape Town’s cruise tourism assemblage generated a publication of R1.79 cardinal to nan province’s GDP, surpassing nan erstwhile year’s R1.32 billion. This surge reinforces nan city’s increasing prominence arsenic a world cruise hub and highlights its captious domiciled successful supporting section economies.

Between September 2024 and June 2025, nan Western Cape welcomed 79 cruise vessel arrivals, resulting successful 83 calls astatine its ports. Long-haul cruises, connecting continents pinch extended itineraries, accounted for 42 of these calls. This influx of cruise postulation has positioned Cape Town arsenic a cardinal destination for world cruisers. The city’s cardinal location connected world cruising routes has been pivotal successful attracting much visitors, thereby bolstering nan region’s tourism-related industries.

Economic Impact and Growth successful Passenger Traffic

The increasing liking successful Cape Town arsenic a cruise destination is reflected successful nan important emergence successful rider traffic. The number of cruise passengers visiting nan region surged to 127,000 for nan 2024/25 season, compared to 109,000 nan twelvemonth prior. As a result, spending by cruise passengers crossed various sectors, including accommodation, retail, and section attractions, has besides seen a important rise. This uptick has led to a full expenditure of R1.99 billion, a 32% summation from nan erstwhile year’s R1.5 billion.

These figures item nan captious economical domiciled of nan cruise tourism sector, pinch nonstop spending generating important gross for section businesses. Hotels, restaurants, unit outlets, and taste attractions person been immoderate of nan superior beneficiaries of nan increasing cruise tourism market, further amplifying Cape Town’s position arsenic a premier recreation destination.

Job Creation and Regional Benefits

Beyond nan financial growth, Cape Town’s cruise tourism roar has contributed to occupation creation successful nan region. The manufacture supported 1,234 nonstop full-time balanced jobs during nan season, pinch nan number rising to 2,345 erstwhile factoring successful multiplier effects. The mostly of these jobs were successful nan unit and markets sectors, followed by nan hospitality industry, including hotels and restaurants. Additionally, circuit operators and different service-related businesses person besides benefited from nan influx of cruise passengers.

While Cape Town has seen important growth, smaller towns crossed nan Western Cape person besides felt nan impact. Destinations specified arsenic Mossel Bay, Hermanus, and Saldanha Bay collectively welcomed astir 32,000 passengers, generating R47.5 cardinal successful section expenditure. This broader location maturation underscores nan wide economical benefits of cruise tourism passim nan province.

Looking Ahead: Future Prospects for Cape Town’s Cruise Industry

Looking guardant to nan 2025/26 season, expectations stay precocious for continued success. With complete 70 vessels already scheduled to sojourn Cape Town, nan metropolis is poised to support its activity domiciled successful nan world cruise tourism market. The presence of high-profile vessels, specified arsenic nan luxury cruise vessel The World, has already group a affirmative reside for nan upcoming season, further cementing nan city’s position arsenic a premier cruise destination.

Cape Town’s Cruise Terminal, regarded arsenic 1 of nan astir charismatic successful nan world, continues to support not only nan cruise manufacture but besides nan city’s broader hospitality and unit sectors. The maturation of Cape Town’s cruise tourism manufacture besides aligns pinch nan broader goals of South Africa’s National Tourism Strategy, aiming to beforehand nan state arsenic a starring recreation destination.

Boosting Local Businesses and Strengthening nan Economy

The affirmative capacity of Cape Town’s cruise industry successful 2024/25 highlights its value successful driving economical growth, peculiarly successful position of tourism-related revenue. The summation successful rider numbers and vessel calls has straight supported nan maturation of section businesses, from upscale hotels to section artisans and retailers, by expanding ft postulation and visitant spending.

Tourism stakeholders are optimistic astir nan early of nan industry, pinch expectations that nan assemblage will proceed to lend to economical improvement crossed nan Western Cape. As world tourism rebounds, Cape Town’s cruise tourism assemblage is well-positioned to capitalize connected its established estimation arsenic a must-visit destination for world travelers.

Key Statistics and Numbers:

• 35% summation successful cruise tourism gross for nan Western Cape.
• 18% summation successful cruise vessel arrivals and 16% emergence successful rider numbers.
• R1.79 cardinal publication to nan province’s GDP, up from R1.32 cardinal successful nan erstwhile year.
• 79 cruise vessel arrivals and 83 alloy calls betwixt September 2024 and June 2025.
• 127,000 cruise passengers, up from 109,000 successful 2023/24.
• Total expenditure of R1.99 billion, a 32% summation from nan erstwhile year.
• 1,234 nonstop jobs created, 2,345 jobs including multiplier effects.