Cape Town cruise traffic grows as African destinations pursue wider tourism gains
Western Cape figures show rising passenger volumes and economic contributions, while Kenya is offering incentives to encourage cruise visitors to extend their stays.
Cape Town opened its 2026/27 cruise season on 17 September with Pacific World carrying 1,397 passengers and 655 crew, according to Wesgro, the tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape.
An industry report showed the city’s traffic rising from about 78,000 passengers across 70 vessel calls in 2022/23 to 127,000 passengers aboard 79 vessels in 2024/25. Wesgro estimated that cruise tourism contributed R4.34 billion to Western Cape GDP, R5.32 billion to South Africa’s economy and R3.04 billion in foreign-exchange earnings over three seasons.
Mossel Bay, Hermanus and Saldanha Bay together received 32,000 passengers during 26 ship visits in 2024/25, generating R47.5 million in local spending, according to industry figures. Mossel Bay opened a cruise reception facility in 2025, while Saldanha Bay is working toward formal Port of Entry and Exit status.
In Kenya, the Kenya Wildlife Service introduced a 30% group incentive in March for cruise passengers visiting Tsavo East, Tsavo West and Amboseli. About 20% of cruise visitors currently extend trips to parks and reserves, with the government seeking to raise that share to 40%. Estimates cited in a state news report put the economic contribution of a short cruise call at about Sh50 million. Kenya is targeting Sh2 billion in revenue from 12,000 cruise tourists.