Robben Island ferry woes
Visitor numbers dwindle and revenue drops as museum turns to hiring private boats
A LACK of properly functioning ferries, resulting in dwindling visitor numbers, is affecting the continued operations of the Robben Island Museum.
The popular tourist destination has released its annual report, which indicates that it had to cancel a large number of tours, leading to a decrease in visitors over the past financial year.
Visitor numbers fell by 11% to just under 330 000 during the 2017/18 financial year, with the province’s water crisis also playing a role.
“The decline in visitor numbers is due to cancellations during the 2017/18 financial year, and had a direct impact on revenue. However, due to tight cost control measures, the organisation successfully managed to generate a surplus,” said Robben Island Museum spokesperson Morongoa Ramaboa.
The museum said it was looking for alternative sources of revenue. The bulk of its revenue came from tickets, but with the unpredictability of the weather and the shortage of ferries, it was difficult to plan.
The baseline of its budget had been put together when the museum was a national monument, but this was not adjusted when it became a World Heritage Site.
“Boat operations have remained an operational risk due to insufficient boat capacity. However, we’ve been able to accommodate 1800 visitors per day during the peak season, and operated smoothly,” Ramaboa said. The museum had four ferries, three of which were outsourced, he said.
Cape Town Tourism chief executive Enver Duminy said Robben Island was one of the Big Six attractions, and was a vital part of Cape Town’s tourism experience.
“A drop in visitor numbers can be attributed to a variety of factors. However, we anticipate that the attraction will regain growth in visitor numbers. It’s a remarkable place to visit, and all locals and international visitors should have the experience of going there.”
Beverley Schäfer, the standing committee chairperson on Economic Opportunities, Tourism, and Agriculture, said: “I think it’s very concerning. I had hoped the report would paint a different picture, but Robben Island has a lot of problems with its ferries, and it does have an impact on their reputation.”
Its not been an easy year for Robben Island. In March this year, workers at the Robben Island Museum said the fact that the 300-seat ferry Sikhululekile had been under repair for months was having an impact on their job security. The museum relies heavily on the hiring of private boats, and has spent more than R44million on rentals in the past financial year.
An amount of R3.3m was spent on repairs in the 2012/2013 financial year. Sikhululekile has not made the trip across Table Bay since December, 2012. To date, the museum has spent R6m on repairs.