SA cruisers beat other markets on spend

SOUTH Africans on average
spend more on cruising per day
than other markets.
This is according to Natalya
Bentas, regional sales manager IRsEurope,
Middle East, Africa for Royal
Caribbean International, Celebrity
Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises.
Natalya was visiting South Africa to
meet agents associated with Cruises
International to see where the growth
opportunities are for the SA market.
“There is massive growth potential
for the SA and African markets,”
says Natalya. Not only do South
Africans spend more per day than
the other 15 markets (including the
US) that we sell the Royal Caribbean
International, Celebrity Cruises and
Azamara Club Cruises brands to, but
they also tend to book higher cabin
categories, she says.
The SA market is ranked second
for overall revenue generated for the
three brands for 2017 so far, says
Natalya.
“It’s quite surprising, as you
wouldn’t expect this, especially with
our exchange rate,” says Thaybz
Khan, contemporary brand manager
of Cruises International.
The positive figures are also
an indication of how well Cruises
International is performing, says
Natalya. It has shown a 30% yearon-year
growth for the three brands.
“The current number of forward
bookings is 50% more than the
same time last year,” says Thaybz.
“This is largely because SA is not
a last-minute booking market,” says
Natalya. This is beneficial to the
consumer, travel agent and cruise
brands. Travel agents then have the
opportunity to properly educate their
clients on the brand, thus making it
more likely that the traveller will get
the type of holiday they want. For
the cruise company it means more
business booked sooner. “Booking
earlier also gives the client the
opportunity to get excited about their
holiday,” she says.