Eighteen cruise liners set to dock in EL

BCM urges stakeholders to warmly welcome visitors and provide them with excellent services

The Buffalo City Metro’s tourism sector is in for a boost as the return of more cruise liners is expected to bring thousands of tourists to the city.

A total of 18 cruise liners are set to soon dock at the East London harbour bringing more than 20,000 visitors to the city.

This is expected to aid the city’s tourism sector in its recovery from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the metro said.

Buffalo City Metro spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya on Saturday said this season will see an increase in the number of cruise shops that will dock at the harbour and the number of passengers per cruise.

He said the city hoped for an increase in the time the cruises spent in Buffalo City.

“Buffalo City tourism is urging all stakeholders in the metro to warmly welcome these visitors and work hard to provide an excellent service to exceed their expectations.

“Metro tourism is encouraging this to ensure that visitors to our city have a memorable experience.

“We are noticing though that the period they spend in our shores in minimal, we would like to see this being extended to at least two to three days,” Ngwenya said.

“We will work very hard to encourage our partners to package the diverse experiences that the city offers.

“We would like to see more players benefiting from this industry, particularly the previously disadvantaged individuals,” he said.

On Sunday, Ngwenya could not be reached to comment on the exact dates the cruise liners are expected in the city.

Executive mayor Xola Pakati said the city was playing its part in ensuring that visitors enjoy a safe experience of the metro.

“We want to thank all the people that are visiting our city,” the mayor said.

“Our tourism establishments are benefiting greatly, and we are doing our part in ensuring that all our visitors enjoy their stay safely as we have upscaled our law enforcement efforts, working with the SA Police Service,” Pakati said..

“We invite everyone to come and explore our city, its beauty, and the hospitality of its people. Explore Buffalo City.”

Around 239 cruise ship callins were expected in SA’S ports between October last year and April 2023.

The Port of Cape Town anticipates 70 call-ins while the Port of Durban anticipates 76; the Port of Mossel Bay 16; the Port of Port Elizabeth 34, and; the Port of Richards Bay 25.

SA’S 2019/2020 cruise season was abruptly halted by the oubreak and spread of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown of the country in March 2020.

Ministerial regulations signed into effect by transport minister Fikile Mbalula, on March 18 2020, initially prohibited further cruise liner calls unless for disembarkation of a returning South African citizens and/or a permanent resident, or embarkation of a departing foreign national.

In the 2021/2022 financial year, about 20 cruise ships arrived in SA, with 71 call-ins at the country’s various ports.