The economic impact of cruise tourism extends far beyond the harbor. Visitors and crew arriving on these ships generate spending that flows through the hospitality sector, restaurants, cultural attractions, retail shops, and wine estates, among many others. During the 2024/25 season, the combined spending of ships and passengers reached R1.99 billion, marking a 32% jump from the R1.5 billion of the previous season.
The growth of cruise tourism has also translated into job creation. A total of 1,234 full-time equivalent jobs were generated within the province, and when multiplier effects are included, the number rises to 2,345. The biggest gains were seen in retail and markets, which accounted for 44% of these jobs, followed by hotels and restaurants with 27%, and tour operators and related services with 9%. Nationwide, nearly 3,000 jobs were directly linked to spending by international passengers.
A particularly notable outcome is that the benefits of this cruise tourism boom are not confined to the metropolitan area. Smaller municipalities such as Mossel Bay, Hermanus, and Saldanha Bay welcomed around 32,000 visitors from 26 ship calls, generating an estimated R47.5 million in local spending. This injection of revenue has boosted small businesses, fostered temporary employment, and strengthened the appeal of these communities as tourist destinations.
Local authorities have expressed strong satisfaction with these results. Wrenelle Stander, CEO of Wesgro, described the period as “a successful year for the cruise industry in Cape Town and the Western Cape,” emphasizing that record passenger numbers and rising economic value demonstrate the sector’s capacity to create jobs and drive sustainable growth. Western Cape’s Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr. Ivan Meyer, stated that the findings highlight global confidence in the region as an international destination and underlined the vital role of cruise tourism in supporting hotels, restaurants, cultural attractions, and wine farms.
The city itself anticipates maintaining this upward momentum. With more than 70 cruise calls already scheduled for the next season—including the prestigious MS The World—Cape Town is positioning itself not only as a strategic hub on global maritime routes but also as a vibrant center for cultural exchange, leisure, gastronomy, and commerce. David Green, CEO of the V&A Waterfront, pointed out that every ship arrival strengthens both service industries and the city’s international branding opportunities. For Captain Alex Miya, acting port manager of Cape Town, the cruise industry is becoming an increasingly important contributor to the national GDP, thanks to the city’s strategic location along major maritime trade routes.
This remarkable growth demonstrates that cruise tourism is far from a niche sector. It is establishing itself as one of the most powerful economic drivers for Cape Town and its surrounding communities, generating prosperity, employment, and global visibility.
