The Western Cape has experienced its most successful cruise season to date, achieving new records in cruise-liner visits, passenger numbers, and economic contributions for the 2024/25 period, according to Wesgro, the province’s tourism, trade, and investment promotion agency.
Engineering News is reporting that preliminary data from the Western Cape Cruise Liner Industry Report indicates that the cruise season contributed R1.79 billion to the province’s gross domestic product (GDP), a significant increase from R1.32 billion in the previous season. This growth was driven by 79 cruise ship arrivals and a total of 83 vessel arrivals between September 2024 and June 2025, marking an 18% increase from 67 ships in the 2023/24 season.
Passenger numbers also saw a rise, reaching 127,000, which is a 16% increase compared to the prior season. Notably, long-haul world cruises accounted for 42 port calls, further enhancing Cape Town’s reputation as a premier global cruise destination.
Cruise tourism has emerged as a vital driver of visitor spending, with each vessel bringing thousands of international travellers whose expenditures benefit local accommodation, restaurants, cultural attractions, retail, and wine farms. Total expenditure generated by vessels and passengers for the 2024/25 season reached R1.99 billion, reflecting a 32% increase from R1.5 billion the previous year.
Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander remarked, “The 2024/25 season has been a successful year for Cape Town and the Western Cape’s cruise industry. With record passenger numbers and expenditure, the industry is demonstrating its capacity to create jobs and stimulate growth across the province.”
The positive impact of cruise tourism extended beyond Cape Town, with smaller municipalities such as Mossel Bay, Hermanus, and Saldanha Bay welcoming 32,000 passengers through 26 ship visits, generating R47.5 million in local spending. This influx supported small businesses, created temporary employment, and enhanced the visibility of these towns as tourism destinations.
Employment growth was another highlight of the season, with 1,234 direct full-time-equivalent jobs created in the Western Cape. The largest share of these jobs was in retail and markets (44%), followed by hotels and restaurants (27%), tour operators and other services (9%), and fuel bunkering (8%).
At a national level, nearly 3,000 jobs were supported, with international passenger spending accounting for almost two-thirds of this total, Stander added.
Dr. Ivan Meyer, Western Cape Agriculture, Economic Development, and Tourism executive, noted the cruise industry’s crucial role in bolstering local businesses and supporting the province’s world-class restaurants, hotels, wine estates, and cultural attractions.
Alderman James Vos, City of Cape Town Economic Growth MMC, emphasized that the Cruise Cape Town initiative continues to attract vessels and unlock significant economic benefits. “Each ship that docks injects millions into local businesses, sustains jobs, and enhances Cape Town’s global profile as a tourism hub,” he stated.
Looking ahead, 70 vessels are scheduled to call at Cape Town in the upcoming season, with the ship MS The World having recently arrived. Captain Alex Miya, acting port manager at Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) Port of Cape Town, reaffirmed the port’s commitment to providing world-class marine services to support this growth.
David Green, CEO of V&A Waterfront, highlighted that the arrival of The World marks a proud milestone for Cape Town, showcasing the city as a leading international port.