Durban to host new Cruise Terminal for boosting tourism
Durban, the largest city in the South African district of KwaZulu-Natal is all about to invest over 200 million dollars for constructing a new Cruise Terminal. The project is an association between Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and the KwaZulu Cruise Terminal (KCT), with various other investors to open the mega project by October 2020.
Mediterranean Shipping Company, also known as MSC has recently signed a bilateral agreement regarding the project. The construction phase is about to continue for a straight 18 months, that is from January 2019 to October 2020.
“The signing will see Transnet introducing new entrants Armada Consortium into the market backed by a global cruise company – MSC Cruises SA. This will bring positive socio-economic spin-offs such as tourism development, job creation, skills development and supplier development,” said Siyabonga Gama, Transnet Group chief executive.
“The global cruise tourism industry is worth a staggering $126 billion a year. It creates more than 1 million jobs and last year in 2017, around 24.7 million passengers were commuted. This is a huge economic impact where our share is minuscule.” added Gama.