The South African government has confirmed that the port city of Cape Town is to finally get its own cruise terminal, which will be a massive boost to the tourism industry.
As part of a multi-billion-dollar upgrade to the harbour, the terminal is expected to open within the next two years.
Port Manager Sipho Nzuzu said a 20-year contract for the construction and management of the berth was expected to be signed next year.
Currently, cruise ships longer than 200m are only allowed to dock far away from the Victoria & Alfred (V&A) Waterfront in the historic heart of the city’s working harbour.
It is South Africa’s most-visited destination, having the highest rate of foreign tourists of any attraction in the country.
The construction of a dedicated terminal, which is set to include arrival and departure facilities, will be located closer to the V&A Waterfront and is expected to boost cruise tourism to the city.
Because of its position along one of the world’s busiest trade routes, Cape Town is one of the busiest ports in South Africa, handling the largest amount of fresh fruit and second only to Durban as a container port.
