Before we get into this I want you to imagine the following: Sitting on the deck of the St Peters Church in South End overlooking the Port of Port Elizabeth whilst sipping a decent cup of coffee!
This could happen as soon as next week I am told!
Just do not imagine portly aged tourists making the trip from their cruise liner, through the Port and up the hill – somehow I do not see that happening. Maybe some tuk tuks could assist.
The good working relations between the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) and tour guides and operators is proving to be the driving force for the booming cruise industry within Nelson Mandela Bay.
According to the Tourist Guide Association of Mandela Bay (TGAMB), which represents the tour guides and operators within Nelson Mandela Bay, the industry has seen a drastic growth post-Covid-19 due to the good working relations and joint efforts made by the Municipality and the Association.
TGAMB Deputy Chairperson, Luxolo Kanti said as the industry they can confirm that huge strides have been made within the tourism industry, with the “cruise industry as the catalyst and gateway”.
“Working with the Municipality to rebuild this industry, we have seen more diversity and inclusiveness. A lot of emerging tour guides and operators have managed to get into the industry and thrive. Through a number of training programmes and workshops we have received on areas like Digital Marketing, Tourism Best Practice and Packaging of Cruise Tourism in South Africa, we have managed to acquire skills to market both the City and our businesses to attract more people to venture into the cruise tourism experience across the world,” said Kanti.
He said as the industry they also appreciate the positive response to advice and contributions by the industry in the policy development of the Municipality.
“We also appreciate the fact that the Municipality is open to the contributions of the operators on areas that need improvement. “In as much as we have made strides, there are still areas we need to improve on, both as the industry and the Municipality, so that we can be competitive against other major cities,” he said.
So far Nelson Mandela Bay has received 34 cruise vessels from the 45 scheduled for this cruise season, which started in November last year. In March alone, there has been 7 cruise vessel dock-ins and 5 overnight stays, with 3 vessels still expected for this month. During the current cruise season, there will be 15 cruise vessels that will stay for more than one day. The cruise vessels for this season are expected to spend a combined total of 61 days.
“As the Executive Mayor, I am thrilled to announce that the current cruise season is expected to generate economic spin-offs of close to R100 million, a significant increase from the R85 million achieved during the 23/24 season. This forecast is based on the anticipated 50,000 passengers who will be spending on tours, dining, shopping, and other cultural and heritage experiences across Nelson Mandela Bay. This influx of visitors will not only boost our local economy but also showcase the rich diversity and vibrant culture of our city, Executive Mayor Lobishe added.
Looking ahead, our Tourism Master Plan outlines several key initiatives aimed at further enhancing our tourism sector. These include the development of new cultural and heritage routes, the promotion of township tourism through community tourism forums, and the expansion of our events strategy to attract more international visitors. We are committed to ensuring that Nelson Mandela Bay remains a top destination for tourists and a thriving community for our residents.”
According to Mayoral Committee member for Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture, MMC Kama, “Part of the work that the NMBM Tourism Sub-Directorate is doing behind the scenes, is to create a conducive environment for the cruise industry to optimise on regional economic opportunities. Working with the vast Tourism industry stakeholders, the Metro encourages passengers to explore the full breadth of the region, including private game reserves, cultural and heritage sites, and local businesses. This is done to make sure that passengers do not just sleep over in the Metro, but spend funds, explore and experience the region’s tourist attractions and create unforgettable memories”.
The NMBM, working with its development entity, Mandela Bay Development Agency, Transnet, Eastern Cape Tourism and other stakeholders has made strategic infrastructure investments to improve port facilities, tourism products and heritage sites to ensure a seamless and welcoming experience for cruise touirsts. The NMBM also paid special attention to tourist safety and hospitality by training and recruiting youth with a tourism background to work as tourism ambassadors. Working with the industry, more work was done in promoting different tourism packages tailor-made for cruise passengers.
