Mindelo Opens Its Doors to International Cruise Tourism
The official inauguration of the Mindelo Cruise Port, held in the stunning setting of São Vicente Island, marks a new era for Cape Verde in the international maritime tourism landscape.
An ambitious project born from strategic vision and international collaboration, the port aims to transform the Atlantic archipelago into a key hub for global cruise traffic.
Mindelo cruise port
The opening ceremony carried both symbolic and practical significance, highlighting the commitment of Cape Verdean authorities to promoting the country’s economic and infrastructural development. Presided over by the Prime Minister of Cape Verde, Ulisses Correia e Silva, the event brought together prominent figures from the political and diplomatic spheres, including the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Cape Verde, Carmen Hagenaars, and Myriam Ferran, Deputy Director-General for International Partnerships at the European Union. With the presence of government officials, local authorities, the diplomatic corps, business leaders, and civil society representatives, the ribbon-cutting marked a historic moment that goes far beyond symbolism, laying the foundations for a shared path of growth.
The new Mindelo cruise terminal was designed with cutting-edge technical and operational features. Equipped with a modern berth capable of accommodating large international cruise ships, the port offers functional buildings, spacious and comfortable areas, and support equipment that meets the highest global standards. Safety, accessibility, and passenger experience quality were central pillars of the entire project. The goal is clear: to offer tourists a world-class welcome that highlights the cultural identity of the island while attracting increasingly significant tourist flows.
Mindelo cruise port
One of the key elements that makes this project especially relevant is the partnership between ENAPOR – Portos de Cabo Verde and Global Ports Holding (GPH), the world’s largest operator of cruise terminals. This agreement, signed in January 2025, aims to ensure the efficient management of the port while leveraging GPH’s expertise in delivering high-quality services. Thanks to this collaboration, Cape Verde seeks not only to enhance its infrastructure standards but also to position itself as a strategic destination for leading cruise companies operating in the Atlantic.
The new cruise terminal represents a high-impact structural investment, expected to generate positive effects across the entire economy of São Vicente Island and, by extension, the entire archipelago. Cruise tourism is a powerful engine of development: it creates job opportunities, stimulates local entrepreneurship, strengthens the commercial fabric, and fosters cultural exchange. The ability to attract large vessels also brings significant benefits to the hospitality, food service, guided tour, and handicraft sectors, contributing to economic growth in a sustainable and inclusive way.
From a geopolitical perspective, Cape Verde’s location—at the crossroads between Europe, Africa, and the Americas—offers a considerable competitive advantage. The development of a modern cruise port like Mindelo allows the country to fully capitalize on its strategic position, strengthening maritime and commercial links and opening up new routes for tourism traffic.
Mindelo cruise port
Special attention has also been given to environmental sustainability and the integration of the port within the island’s natural landscape. The infrastructure was conceived to respect São Vicente’s delicate ecological balance, minimizing the environmental impact of port operations. In a global context where responsible tourism is increasingly a priority, Mindelo presents itself to the world as a model of harmony between progress, natural beauty, and environmental awareness.
ENAPOR, the public entity managing Cape Verde’s ports, expressed deep gratitude to all partners involved in the realization of the project and the inauguration ceremony. The success of this initiative is the result of synergy among public and private actors, both national and international, united by a shared vision: to make Cape Verde a competitive, modern, and sustainable destination. In this regard, ENAPOR reaffirmed its commitment to continuing the modernization of national ports and promoting balanced development that respects the specific characteristics of each territory.
In conclusion, the opening of the Mindelo Cruise Port is not just a celebratory event, but a tangible symbol of long-term, structural change. It marks a decisive step toward the internationalization of Cape Verde’s tourism industry, capable of delivering concrete benefits for the local economy and enhancing the country’s global image. The new terminal is not only an open door to the world but also a window through which the world can discover the beauty, culture, and opportunities that Cape Verde has to offer.
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