But 2016-17 is expected to be bigger still, with the first visits of a $1.25 billion superliner Ovation of the Seas. The ship will be the biggest to visit New Zealand and will carry almost 5000 passengers and 2000 crew at capacity.
Commercial director for Royal Caribbean International in Australasia Sean Treacy said the ship's first two stops in Tauranga, on December 26, 2016 and January 13, 2017, would drive about $1.7 million worth of economic benefit, based on Cruise New Zealand's estimated average guest spend of about $172 per day in port. "Tauranga's an extremely popular destination for us in terms of excursions " both beach access and Mount Maunganui and easy access to Rotorua," he said.
"Tours for Tauranga are quite popular. That's probably over 50 per cent of the spend, followed by shopping and then food."
Mr Treacy said he expected Ovation of the Seas, which is still being built in Germany, to be near capacity on its first two trips to Tauranga.
Tourism Bay of Plenty head of marketing Kristin Dunne said the increase was good news.
The number of passengers was increasing as ships got bigger, she said.
About 55 per cent of cruise ship passengers stayed in Tauranga, while the other 45 per cent booked tours to Rotorua or Hobbiton, she said.
But even those taking tours out of town were pouring money back into the Tauranga economy because transport was being provided by Tauranga tour operators, who made food and souvenir stops in Tauranga wherever possible, she said.
Mount Maunganui Paper Plus manager Jane Debenham said every person coming to the city helped.
"You get more and more people on the streets and it creates that neat atmosphere.
"After the long winter, we all look forward to the cruise ship season," she said.
"We always look for ways we can entice the cruise ship people to stay in Mount Maunganui and into our village street."
Mount Mainstreet manager Peter Melgren said Mount Maunganui was lucky to have cruise ships coming to the area and lucky that the industry was continuing to grow.
"Cruise ships in summer are pretty damn good for the Mount.
"They are absolutely lovely to have, and we need to be really good hosts and we need to attract passengers back."
Mr Melgren said he would like to see more attractions to keep people in Tauranga but said it was important to remember that, were it not for Rotorua, "we never would have got [cruise ships] in the first place".
Tauranga Chamber of Commerce interim chief executive Toni Palmer agreed it was all good news for the city.
"The cruise ship industry adds to our summer season, with more discretionary dollars going on retail and tours. It would be great to see more events promoted and aligned with the arrival of the ships to encourage visitors to stay local.
"The increase of $2.4 million may seem small but the bigger picture of $40.5 million coming into the Bay area should be celebrated."
What do you think?
Have your say below or email editor@bayofplentytimes.co.nz, go to our facebook page, text 021 241 4568 BOP (message) or write to Private Bag 12002.
Response may be published.
