Cruise on track to smash 2020 target
The Australian cruise industry continues to flourish as a new report revealed 2012 as its eighth consecutive year of double digit growth.
The 2012 Australian Cruise Industry Report showed the number of Aussies that took a cruise in 2012 surged by 11% on the previous year to 694,062. The growth figure surpassed all other markets apart from Germany.
Cruise penetration in the local market was the second highest in the world for the period at 3%, falling only slightly behind North America.
Speaking to a delegation of industry representatives aboard Carnival Spirit in Sydney today, Cruise Lines International Association Australasia general manager Brett Jardine said the new figures make the target of achieving one million passengers by 2020 look "more achievable than ever".
"If we maintain last year's growth rate over the coming years, we will reach one million passengers by 2016," he said.
CLIA Australasia chairman Gavin Smith said the last four years have seen the number of Aussies taking a cruise holiday more than double from 330,290 in 2008 to almost 700,000.
"Over the past decade, we've seen an average annual growth rate of 20% – a remarkable result for any industry," he said.
The outlook for the industry remains positive, Smith added, although he highlighted the importance of improved port infrastructure and supportive government policies as vital for its continued success.
The report revealed that in 2012, almost half of Australian cruise passengers were under 50, a quarter under 40 and one third were over 61.
Further insights found that the majority of passengers hailed from New South Wales at 43%, but the state with the highest penetration per capita was the Australian Capital Territory with 5.5% of its residents taking a cruise.
Australians accounted for 84% of cruisers on roundtrips from Australia, with the remainder of around 100,000 passengers made up of international passengers.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
brett jardine carnival spirit clia cruise gavin smithLatest News
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