SA boosts cruise ship circuit with launch of association
The industry is indeed evolving and cruise ship companies are looking for new ports of call in different parts of the world to add value to their packages.
South Africa has launched a Cruise Indian Ocean Association (CIOA) chapter in a campaign to market cruise tourism more aggressively.
Launched by Kwazulu Natal and Transnet National Ports Authority of South Africa, the chapter becomes the second after the Kenyan chapter, which was launched in 2004. The joint initiative is being implemented through the Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa (PMAESA).
“CIOA’s principal objective is to promote the entire region as an attractive cruise destination and also to achieve harmonization of procedures relating to the reception of cruise ships and passengers at the ports in this part of the world,” Mr James Mulewa, the Kenya Ports Authority managing director who is also the chairman of CIOA Kenya chapter said.
There are plans to expand to other PMAESA members who currently stand at 20. “We hope this will give the other member states the motivation to launch the association in their respective countries soon ,” said Mulewa in South Africa when he addressed participants during the launch.
The industry, he said, is currently handling about 13.5 million passengers annually.
Some 4.4 million Europeans cruised in 2008, Mulewa said, adding that Europe’s shipyards are busy with new builds and 17 ships have been ordered for the European market between now and 2012.
“The industry is indeed evolving and cruise ship companies are looking for new ports of call in different parts of the world to add value to their packages,” Mulewa said, adding that most of the African ports have good tourist attractions.
In regard to the infrastructure required to service cruise vessels, most of the countries, Kenya included, are successfully using cargo facilities to provide the requisite services and continue to ensure scheduled cruise itineraries, Mulewa said, adding that the cruise sector was still in the growth stage of the industry’s life cycle and provided a great opportunity for the African ports to contribute significantly to the industry.
“The air connections are adequate as there are daily flights to most destinations,” he said.
Following the realization of the potential in the industry PMAESA members formed a standing committee on cruise tourism with the objective of projecting a united image and working together in promoting the whole destination as is done in the Caribbean, Mediterranean and recently in Asia.
“In our endeavours, we bank on our multi-faceted cultural richness, varied heritage including geographical and historical landmarks, friendly weather, wildlife and even diversity of our peoples,” Mulewa said.
The potential that exist in the region is enormous; ranging from the Nubian Desert in the north, snow capped Mount Kilimanjaro — the highest point in Africa and the Great Rift Valley.
Tourist attraction Others are the great plains of East Africa, including Serengeti, the new seventh wonder of the world — Maasai Mara, the slave markets of Zanzibar, River Nile and Lake Victoria.
In South Africa, there ‘is The Table Mountains and Robben Island and a number of game reserves in close proximity to the eastern seaboard ports. The region has a sunny climate with the tropical zone providing conducive environment for all year round cruising.
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