Cruise tourism contributed US$343 million (R5.7 billion) to the Western Cape’s GDP over four seasons, according to a StratEcon study presented at Cruise Cape Town’s 2026 annual review.
Over the four seasons, the sector supported an average of 7 875 annual full-time equivalent jobs, generated US$166 million (R2.76 billion) in household income and contributed US$47.5 million (R791 million) to the national fiscus.
During the 2025/26 season, Cape Town and the Western Cape received 64 cruise vessels, 106 240 passengers and 37 200 crew members. The sector contributed US$81.1 million (R1.35 billion) to provincial GDP with total industry expenditure reaching US$88.3 million (R1.47 billion). This supported 1 700 full-time equivalent jobs in the Western Cape and 2 151 nationally.
Despite Middle East conflict-related cancellations, passenger numbers exceeded those of the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons with the second-highest embarkation and disembarkation figures recorded to date.
World cruises were the largest contributor to GDP while calls at smaller ports in Mossel Bay, Hermanus and Saldanha Bay generated a further US$673 000 (R11.2 million) in visitor spending.
Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander said the Southern Africa Cruise Alliance aims to attract cruise lines and develop regional itineraries with partners in Namibia, Angola, St Helena and Seychelles.
The 2026/27 cruise season is underway with SH Diana recently docking in Cape Town.
