Africa charts a course for superyacht growth: Industry unites to develop a regional strategy
by Superyacht Cape Town 30 Oct 07:04 GMT
Africa's superyacht industry took a major step forward last week with the inaugural meeting of key African superyacht stakeholders, bringing together representatives from government, industry and tourism to shape a unified strategy for the continent's emerging superyacht and marine tourism sector.
Convened by Veda Pretorius, Director of the African Boating Conference, the roundtable marked the first coordinated effort to unlock Africa's superyacht potential. The meeting attracted key industry and government stakeholders, all focused on turning Africa's natural marine assets and attractions into engines of sustainable growth for the superyacht sector.
Working Group Established to Drive Strategy Forward
A key outcome of the meeting was the formation of the African Superyacht Working Group, which will lead the implementation of an African superyacht growth strategy.
Veda Pretorius was unanimously elected as Chair of the Working Group, reflecting broad confidence in her leadership and her pivotal role in building collaboration across Africa's marine and tourism sectors. The Working Group will guide the development of a strategy centred on five priority areas:
- Policy and regulation: Aligning visa, charter, and tax frameworks to facilitate superyacht visits and refit activity.
- Infrastructure investment: Expanding marina and refit capacity across key African and Indian Ocean hubs.
- Marketing and branding: Positioning Africa as a distinctive, high-quality cruising destination on the global map.
- Skills development: Building training and employment pathways in yacht services, engineering, and tourism.
- Sustainability and inclusion: Ensuring local enterprise participation, (broad economic benefit) and environmental stewardship remain core to growth.
Industry Voices Call for Collaboration
"There's never been a more opportune time to align Africa's marine and tourism sectors around a shared vision," said Andre Blaine, Head of Marine and Industrial at the V&A Waterfront. "We already have the natural assets and technical capability — what we need now is regulatory alignment and regional coordination to welcome more superyachts, extend their stays, and maximise the benefits for local communities."
Bruce Tedder, Chair of Blue Cape, emphasised the economic value of building a structured approach: "Superyachts are high-value catalysts. Every vessel that stops here supports dozens of local suppliers — from engineers to chefs, mechanics, and crew. By creating a clear policy and marketing framework, we can turn what is now an occasional visit into a consistent economic driver for Cape Town and the region."
Representing the Indian Ocean perspective, Christophe Caume, Managing Director of Madascarenes and Cyril Mahafahana, Madagascar Yacht Services, were united in their comment; "Our region is already part of the global cruising circuit, but we need to make it easier for vessels to come and stay. Simplified customs and joint marketing between destinations like Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius, and South Africa will allow Africa to offer a truly world-class yachting experience."
A Shared Vision for Africa's Blue Economy
Participants agreed that the superyacht sector represents more than luxury tourism — it is a high-impact opportunity for jobs, skills, investment, and inclusive growth. Governments in attendance acknowledged its alignment with Blue Economy frameworks, committing to support the development of enabling infrastructure and policies.
"This initiative reflects a new level of cooperation across borders and sectors," said Veda Pretorius, chair of the working group. "By working together, we can position Africa as the world's next great superyacht frontier — one that combines economic value with sustainability and community benefit."
Next Steps
The Working Group will oversee the drafting of an African Superyacht Action Agenda, outlining clear steps for infrastructure expansion, policy reform, and international promotion. The agenda will be shared through the Superyacht Cape Town network, ensuring broad regional participation and visibility.