CRUISE LINER INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL ECONOMIC IMPACT
Published: April 13, 2026<< BACK TO NEWS
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The continued growth of the cruise tourism industry in Nelson Mandela Bay is making a meaningful and measurable contribution to the local economy, reinforcing the City’s position as an emerging destination of choice for international cruise liners.
Since the start of the 2025/26 cruise season in September 2025, the industry has already contributed approximately R98.2 million to the Nelson Mandela Bay economy, with the season set to conclude in June 2026.
This upward trajectory reflects consistent year-on-year growth in cruise activity and economic impact:
- 2022/23 season: 34 dockings, approximately 45,000 passengers, contributing R74.5 million.
- 2023/24 season: 37 dockings, approximately 50,000 passengers, contributing R81.5 million.
- 2024/25 season: 41 dockings, approximately 53,000 passengers, contributing R96.4 million.
- 2025/26 season: 41 dockings, approximately 79,421 passengers, projected to contribute R129.6 million.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor, Councilor Babalwa Lobishe has attributed the steady growth of the Cruise liner industry to the Municipality’s strategic planning which identified the opportunity and capitalised through collaboration with stakeholders like Transnet & Tourism stakeholder to make sure that we create ease of operations for cruise liners and develop tourism packages that will create unforgettable memories for the passengers and the crew.
"Although the growth we have seen is not surprising, it shows that our strategic efforts are consistently yielding positive momentum, which we find very encouraging. Given the challenges of slow economic growth and unemployment, this is one of the areas we will continue to leverage going forward. We will also continue to improve our tourism offerings,” said Executive Mayor Lobishe.
Between September 2025 and April 2026, Nelson Mandela Bay recorded 34 cruise calls over 44 port days, attracting an estimated 58,426 visitors, translating into 77,130 passenger days. Passenger spending alone is estimated at R77.1 million, based on an average spend of R1,000 per day on onshore activities such as tours, shopping, food, and entertainment.
Additional economic benefits include approximately R20 million generated through port fees and shipping agent services. High-impact vessel calls during the season included AMERA (R5.70 million), QUEEN ANNE (R5.59 million), and VOYAGER OF THE SEAS (R5.49 million), each contributing significantly to local economic activity.
To enhance visitor experience and maximise tourism value, the Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture (EDTA) Directorate has implemented several support measures. These include the establishment of a Hospitality Welcome Desk at the harbour for each vessel docking, where visitors receive brochures, city highlights, safety information, and guidance on local experiences.
In addition, close collaboration with Transnet has ensured seamless docking operations, efficient visitor flow, and the vetting of tour operators and guides to maintain service quality and safety standards.
The Executive Mayor said the city is now working on a second phase of improving the docking time of cruise liners so that the City’s economy can benefit more. At average, the Cruise liner docks in Nelson Mandela Bay for one to 5 days.
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