CRUISE SECTOR VITAL FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY

Another boost to the Western Cape's economy is the busy cruise season with some large ships calling in Cape Town.

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THE small cruise ship SH Diana berthed in Mossel Bay last week as part of the celebrations to inaugurate the cruise ship terminal in the Southern Cape port. Larger ships anchor off the port and passengers are conveyed ashore in the ships' tenders. Imagine the economic impact of regular cruise ship calls on that town, and swelling the number of visitors to the area, including to Oudtshoorn and Knysna.

(BRIAN INGPEN)

Imagine the spending power of even 1 000 passengers and about 300 crewmembers going ashore from one of these ships!

Imagine the stores orders that these ships place with chandlers! Supplying flour, meat, fish, liquor, soft drinks, fresh fruit, vegetables and other items even toilet rolls - adds to the revenue earned by local chandlers during the cruise ship season. For a recent caller on a long voyage, the egg supplier alone earned R155 900! Some ships refuel here, to the delight of bunker suppliers.

Tour operators, restauranteurs, hoteliers and shops benefit from these ships.

Some passengers disembark here, and undertake local tours before flying home, while joining passengers usually fly to Cape Town a few days before the ship arrives to enjoy the Cape's delights. Both groups bring considerable revenue to a wide variety of service providers even in airport taxes and shuttle services.