The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is excited about the booming cruise ship season that has contributed immensely to the rejuvenation of the city’s tourism economy.
This week alone the city has seen three cruise ships docking at our shores with a combined 4 764 tourist passengers.
On 25 January the city welcomed the Aida Aura cruise liner carrying 1 266 passengers, departing on 26 January.
It was joined by the MSC Orchestra cruise liner on the same day with 1 300 passengers. The MSC Orchestra departed later the same day.
The Aida Mar cruise ship arrived on 26 January in the morning with 2 198 passengers, leaving on 27 January.
What makes this even more special is the fact that this is the Aida Mar’s maiden voyage to Nelson Mandela Bay, and it is also the first time it docked at the same shore and at the same time as the Aida Aura.
Welcoming the Aida Mar tourism passengers as they disembarked, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture, Councillor Luxolo Namette, said the city was very excited about the arrival of these cruise liners on our shores.
Its indicative of the recovering tourism sector, and the confidence both tourist and the cruise shipping lines shown towards our beautiful Metro and all that it has to offer. We appeal to the tourism stakeholders to improve tourism attraction packages in order to double and even triple the number of cruise liners and tourists that visit our shores.
ISSUED BY NELSON MANDELA BAY COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
