Cruise Tourism: A potential wave of benefits

20 February 2015

During his State of the Nation Address President Jacob Zuma announced that more should be done to open our oceans for trade and tourism.

As it stands, very little has been done to carry out the much-needed upgrades at the major ports in our country.

Transnet had made proposals to develop cruise liner terminals in Cape Town, yet no projects have been undertaken to construct this infrastructure. I submitted parliamentary questions toward the end of last year to ascertain the progress of the project and was informed that government had withdrawn the tender process.

This entire tender process has been mired in secrecy and this could open it up to corruption, collusion and tender irregularity. The sudden cancellation of the tender process is also a major contradiction of ANC policy in this regard and it begs the question as to why it was cancelled in the first place. 

I will today submit further parliamentary questions to ascertain the following:

What are the reasons for the sudden withdrawal of the tender process for the construction of a dedicated cruise liner terminal for Cape Town harbour?

Was Transnet a preferred bidder over the holding company of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront?

Who were all the bidders in the initial tender process?

What were the proposal requirements for the original tendering process?

The City of Cape Town is poised to become a cruise tourism hot spot in South Africa, and the construction of dedicated cruise liner infrastructure in the city will have vast benefits for regional job-creation and economic development.

Furthermore, the construction of a dedicated cruise liner terminal is in line with the mandate of the National Development Plan (NDP). Dedicated cruise liner infrastructure could also serve as a platform upon which further port facilities can be developed and built.

If tourism numbers dwindle and the sector suffers that will directly impact on our economy and kill thousands of jobs.

For every 12 international tourists that visit our shores, one full-time sustainable job is created. Government needs to awaken to this fact and take advantage of it. 

The DA will continue to drive for an open, transparent and fair tendering process for the construction of a dedicated cruise liner terminal in Cape Town as a viable and important job-creating project for this city and region.

Statement issued by James Vos MP, DA Shadow Minister of Tourism, February 20 2015

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