Durban Cruise Terminal Named After Mandela, Boosts Tourism
Officials anticipate growth multiplying as more liners and tourists arrive, spreading wealth to local shops, attractions and small businesses.
DURBAN, South Africa - President Cyril Ramaphosa hailed the newly launched Nelson Mandela cruise ship terminal as a boon for tourism that restores Durban's status as a premier global destination alongside Cape Town, writes Winston Mwale.
Speaking at the opening ceremony Tuesday evening, Ramaphosa thanked the Nelson Mandela Foundation for lending its name and iconic brand to the $20 million terminal project he said will energize the industry and economy.
The partnership between the foundation, Mediterranean Shipping Company and Africa Armada consortium funded construction of the new terminal able to handle the world's largest cruise liners.
Ramaphosa said the 30-year concession aligns investment scale with expected revenues over time. MSC will operate the terminal then transfer ownership to Transnet port authorities.
He called tourism an engine of growth contributing $11 billion annually in the Western Cape province alone.
"We want to see similar numbers attracted to KwaZulu-Natal," Ramaphosa added. Officials hope attaching Mandela's instantly recognizable name to Durban's harbor draws global attention and passenger ships.
Upgrading dated port infrastructure also enables South Africa to recapture its competitive rank as a maritime hub.
Transnet aims to exponentially increase container and automotive capacity over the next 15 years while creating 570,000 direct jobs through its over $10 billion KwaZulu-Natal supply chain revitalization program.
Thirty-three flagship initiatives are underway spanning five port districts.
"Despite significant challenges, there has been progress and movement, and this project is one example," Ramaphosa said, crediting public-private partnerships with expediting development.
He concluded that the new terminal symbolizes South Africa's economic recovery and thanked MSC for its vote of confidence.
Officials anticipate growth multiplying as more liners and tourists arrive, spreading wealth to local shops, attractions and small businesses.
"The vast majority of cruise passengers revisit destinations they first discovered onboard," Ramaphosa noted, making the terminal an investment in tourism's future.
"We are certain this will live up to the greatness of Nelson Mandela and be a symbol of hope."