South African Tourism’s Post

🛳️ We probably do not have to convince anyone that Gdynia is an exceptional city. It is no coincidence that we have chosen it as the location of our headquarters - it is situated at the central point of the Baltic trade and tourist routes. This year's cruise ship season has just ended and the Port of Gdynia Authority S.A. is closing it with 42 calls. The first ship of the season was AIDAmar, and its finale was honoured by one of the largest cruise ships in Europe - Celebrity Silhouette, which docked in the port on 22 October. 📈 In total, nearly 100,000 passengers were served and the AIDA cruise line was by far the most popular, making 16 calls, 9 of which were made by the AIDAmar. The average turnaround time of the ships was over 10 hours, giving tourists the chance to discover local attractions and fostering the development of the city's catering, hotel, and service industries. 🎯 The Port of Gdynia is continually investing in infrastructure development to meet the growing demands of maritime tourism. It expects even more calls in the coming season, scheduled for April 2025. We hope that the next season will further cement Gdynia's position on the map of the most important cruise ports on the Baltic Sea. #intermarine #intermarinegroup #Gdynia #portgdynia #cruiseseason2024 #maritimetourism #balticsea #cruiseship #visitgdynia

The maritime industry continues to make waves with remarkable growth in cruise tourism, and Nassau Cruise Port in the Bahamas is leading the charge. In 2024, the port welcomed an unprecedented 5.6 million passengers, marking its second consecutive year of record-breaking growth. This 28% increase from 2023's 4.4 million passengers is a testament to the port's strategic expansion and the enduring allure of Caribbean cruises. Key factors driving this success include the port's recent infrastructure developments, such as a new terminal and additional docking spaces, which have significantly enhanced capacity and efficiency. The port's prime location in the beautiful Bahamas and its accessibility to major cruise lines have also bolstered its popularity. Looking ahead, Nassau Cruise Port is poised to maintain its status as a premier destination. Continued investment in infrastructure and visitor experience improvements will be vital to sustaining this upward trajectory. The maritime industry should keep a close eye on this thriving hub as a bellwether for the broader success of Caribbean cruise tourism. #NassauCruisePort #RecordPassengerNumbers #Bahamas #CaribbeanCruises #CruiseDestination #PortExpansion #VisitorNumbers #CruiseIndustry #TourismGrowth #TravelIndustry #CruiseLines #NassauCruisePortRecords #BahamasTourism #CruisePassengerNumbers #TravelandTourism #CruiseTerminal Read more on NeonHorizon🔗 https://lnkd.in/djHrYQVv

Norwegian Cruise Line’s first Prima Plus-class ship, Norwegian Aqua, will sail a transatlantic voyage and numerous cruises to the Caribbean during its maiden season following its debut in March 2025. Read more in the latest issue of Cruise & Ferry Itinerary Planning: https://lnkd.in/eCgN_Xa6 #cruise #CruiseNorwegian #travel 

🚢 Last Cruise Ship of the Year! 🌟 On August 26th, the Ocean Regatta docked in Nanaimo as the second and final cruise ship of the year. This "pocket-sized" vessel brought 625 passengers to our shores, potentially infusing over $52,000 into our local economy, with each passenger spending an average of $84. Shuttles and Tourism Nanaimo staff were on hand on the terminal and specific city locations to guide visitors throughout the city. Following the pandemic’s impact on the cruise industry, Nanaimo is gradually rebuilding its cruise ship traffic. This marks the second ship in five years, with the first visit occurring earlier this May. Mayor Leonard Krog and other dignitaries greeted the visitors, highlighting the positive impact of these arrivals on our community. Looking ahead, Nanaimo Port Authority anticipates cruise ship visits more than doubling next year. 🚢✨ #NanaimoCruise #CommunityBoost #TourismNanaimo #EconomicImpact #CruiseSeason2024 #WelcomeVisitors #LocalEconomy #FuturePlans #NanaimoHarbour #CruiseShipArrival #TravelNanaimo #VisitorExperience #CruiseTourism #NanaimoPortAuthority #CityWelcome #EconomicRevival #CruiseIndustry #TourismRecovery #NanaimoLife #HarbourCity #ExploreNanaimo #CruiseTravel #LocalImpact

As a traveller you don’t care about airline jargon—so why should you care about #NewDistributionCapability (NDC)? Let’s skip the technical stuff and focus on why this matters to you. Whether you’re a business traveller, a travel manager, or simply someone who values efficiency, NDC directly impacts how easy and personalised your travel experience can be. Think of #NDC like upgrading from a vending machine to a personal shopper. Instead of picking from a limited selection of pre-packaged options, you get real-time, tailored choices—flights with your preferred seats, baggage options that match your needs, and pricing that’s transparent and up-to-date. All of this is delivered seamlessly through your travel agent or booking platform. Here’s what it means for you: ✈️ More choice and control: Flights and services tailored to your specific needs. ✈️ Simplified changes: Travel adjustments are faster and easier to handle. ✈️ Happier travellers: Because fewer surprises and smoother bookings mean less stress. For businesses, it’s about balancing cost efficiency with employee satisfaction. Personalised, streamlined travel isn’t just a perk—it’s becoming a necessity. So, how important is personalisation in your company’s travel policy? Could smarter, more flexible booking tools make a difference? I’d love to hear your thoughts ✈️

Norwegian Cruise Line Chooses Panama as New Home Port: Key Highlights Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has selected Panama as its newest home port, marking a significant boost to the country’s position in the global cruise industry. This decision will expand regional cruise options and bring economic and tourism benefits to Panama. Key Factors and Benefits: 🛳️ Strategic Location: Panama’s unique geographical position, with access to both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and the famous Panama Canal, allows NCL to offer new itineraries that include canal transits and exploration of Central America’s coasts. 🛳️ Economic Impact: The influx of tourists will generate significant revenue for local businesses and create job opportunities, while also driving infrastructure development to support increased visitor numbers. 🛳️ Industry Growth: NCL’s choice reinforces Panama’s growing role in the cruise sector and is expected to attract more cruise lines to consider Panama as a viable home port. 🛳️ New Experiences for Passengers: Passengers will enjoy diverse itineraries featuring stops at destinations across Central and South America, opportunities for cultural exploration, eco-tourism, and close-up views of the Panama Canal. NCL’s decision represents a new era for both the cruise line and Panama, promising a mutually beneficial partnership and an enhanced cruising experience for travelers worldwide. #NorwegianCruiseLine #Panama #cruiseline #MakariosServicesInc #HomePort

Did you know that the U.S. and the Dominican Republic have signed an Open Skies Agreement, paving the way for enhanced aviation cooperation and economic ties? This agreement means no more restrictions on where Dominican airlines can fly in the U.S., offering travelers more flight options, lower fares, and improved services. Dominican travelers will soon have the flexibility to fly non-stop to a broader range of U.S. destinations beyond the usual New York and Florida routes, including cities with large Dominican communities. Likewise, U.S. travelers will benefit from more direct flights to the Dominican Republic, allowing for more time spent enjoying our beautiful country and boosting local tourism. This agreement is set to transform air travel between our countries, making it more convenient and accessible for everyone. 🌍✈️ #OpenSkies #DominicanRepublic #IncentiveTravel #Tourism #EventProfs Dominicana & Partners DMC

Breaking news just in from the cruise sector: PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP, provider of luxury expedition cruises in the small ships segment under 500 passengers, has acquired a majority stake in Aqua Expeditions, the small ship expedition company known for river and ocean cruises in South America, Southeast Asia and beyond. More details in TRAVELinc Memo next week. Pictured: Aqua Blu courtesy of Aqua Expeditions. PONANT Aqua Expeditions #cruising #travelagents #travel #expedition CLIA in Australasia

Flexibility is key to satisfying the demands of international clients. Why? Because each region requires unique areas of special attention, so trip support services need to be tailored accordingly to ensure smooth and efficient operations. UAS Founder and CEO Omar Hosari shares his thoughts on tailoring solutions to regional demands.  Read more: https://bit.ly/3ToD0fH #TripSupport #Aviation #Traveling

📰 Cruise Industry Insights: Challenges Ahead In yesterday's feature in Tourism Ticker, NZCA CEO Jacqui Lloyd highlights the crucial economic contributions of the cruise industry to New Zealand. Despite its significant impact, the sector faces a declining trend due to rising operational costs and stringent regulations. 🚢💼 "As we navigate through 2025, addressing these challenges is a priority to sustain and enhance the value that cruising brings to our economy," says Jacqui Lloyd. Subscribers can read the full article here: Stay tuned and mark your calendar for Conference this August to stay informed about the dynamics shaping our industry and what it means for the future of tourism in New Zealand. 📆 2025 Conference will be held in Napier on Thursday 14th August at the Napier War Memorial Centre. #NZCruise #TourismInsights #EconomicImpact #CruiseChallenges #NZCA #NZTourism #cruisenews #wearecruise