Allan Foggitt, Marketing Director, Starlight Cruises
After 9 years in Canada, Allan returned to South Africa in 1982 to join the family business, TFC Tours, the largest wholesale tour operator in South Africa and a pioneering company in the development of cruise tourism. After the sale of TFC in 1990, Starlight Cruises emerged, with Allan and his sister Daphne at the helm. Their first charter was the Achille Lauro.
In 1993 MSC took ownership of the Achille Lauro and the relationship between Starlight and MSC was formed. The 1994 season generated 17,000 passengers whilst the current season’s itinerary will see in excess of 120,000 passengers. This phenomenal growth is due partly to the introduction 11 years ago of new destinations in Mozambique such as - Bazaruto in1992,Portuguese Island in1995 and in 2003 Barra Lodge was added as a new pristine destination. Ships that have subsequently graced South African shores under the MSC/Starlight relationship include MSC Symphony, MSC Monterey, MSC Rhapsody, MSC Melody and now the MSC Sinfonia.
Allan is responsible for many of the long-term travel agent and media relationships in place today as well maintaining a close relationship with many of Starlight’s past passengers; he is a leading contributor to the cruise industry in South Africa