Huge boost in cruise ship passengers expected

The number of cruise ship passengers expected to visit New Zealand this summer will increase by 20 per cent, bringing more than 200,000 people to the country.

Figures released yesterday by the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) on behalf of Cruise New Zealand show the cruise ship industry in New Zealand continues to grow.

Last summer there was 174,000 arrivals in the country, up 28 per cent on the previous season.

The predicted 20 per cent growth this summer would mean more than 208,600 passengers would arrive in New Zealand.

Last summer cruise passengers spent $132 million on New Zealand's shores, and a further $100 million was spent by cruise companies on New Zealand products such as food, fuel, port fees and crew support.

"Cruising is a rolled gold opportunity for New Zealand," Carnival Australia chief executive Ann Sherry said.

TIA chief executive Martin Snedden said large numbers of travellers around the world were choosing cruises as their preferred mode of travel and New Zealand's tourism industry must do all it could to embrace the opportunities the growth in the sector offered.

"New Zealand can provide world-class experiences for these visitors that they will find nowhere else. These unique experiences will encourage them to come back, as well as recommending New Zealand to family and friends as a holiday destination," he said.

The cruise New Zealand figures also showed that last summer 108,044 passengers started and finished their cruise in other countries, and 47,148 began or ended their cruise in New Zealand.

On average, those that started or finished their cruise in New Zealand stayed in the country an extra three nights.

The opportunities the cruise sector presents will be discussed at the 2012 TIA Summit in Wellington today.

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