Africa-Press – Cape verde. The president of the São Nicolau Tourist Operators Association (SN Turismo), Arnaldo Felisberto, said this Thursday that the simultaneous arrival of the Hamburg and Hebridean Sky cruise ships reflects the goal of placing the island on the international tourist map.
In an interview with Inforpress, Arnaldo Felisberto emphasized that the association has been working to affirm the island’s potential in various segments of the sector, highlighting that this event represents an important step in this strategy.
“This truly marks our struggle to put São Nicolau on the tourist map. It’s a huge challenge for everyone involved in this sector, considering the logistics involved,” said the leader, highlighting that the operation mobilized significant human and material resources.
According to the official, organizing the arrival of the cruise ships faced challenges, notably the scarcity of local guides due to the migration of trained young people to other islands.
“The departure of tour guides to other islands represented a challenge for the organization of our activities. We had to resort to people who speak other languages, but I think that, if the necessary conditions are created, we can keep young people here on the island,” he argued.
The Hamburg cruise ship, with 302 passengers, and the Hebridean Sky, with 89, brought a special dynamic to the local economy, which Arnaldo Felisberto considers a “fundamental incentive” for the development of São Nicolau.
The president of SN Turismo also took the opportunity to point out the need for improvements in port infrastructure, specifically in the Port of Tarrafal, suggesting interventions in terms of depth and docking capacity.
For local operators, the unprecedented presence of these two cruise ships at the same time is seen as a historic milestone and an opportunity to boost income in Tarrafal and throughout the island of São Nicolau.
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