NZ cruise market a success story

NZ cruise market a success story

New Zealand’s status as one of the fastest growing markets for operators of cruises is about to be updated.

A report on Thursday by Cruise Lines International Association of Australasia will show how New Zealand has performed on the world cruise stage.

It will detail how many New Zealanders took a cruise in 2014 and where they cruised to as well as the rate of growth and other trends.

New Zealand cruise passenger numbers soared to an all-time high of 59,316 in last year’s report, giving the market one of the highest growth rates worldwide.

Cruises are the fastest growing sector in tourism.

The size of New Zealand’s cruise sector doubled in the last five years, according to Cruise New Zealand.

The cruise sector is worth $NZ365 million ($A338.57 million) in value-add to the New Zealand economy and is forecast to grow to $NZ422 million by 2016.

The tourism success story has been putting pressure on port operators to offer better facilities to cruise liners.

Port of Tauranga said last month it will host the giant cruise ship Ovation of the Seas when it makes its maiden voyage to New Zealand in the summer of 2016/2017.

The Royal Caribbean vessel is 348m long and can host nearly 5000 passengers and 1500 crew.

With a price tag of $US1 billion ($A1.30 billion), its on board entertainment includes a skydiving simulator and a bar staffed by robots.

Port of Tauranga chief executive Mark Cairns said dredging of Tauranga Harbour made the visit possible and each visit was estimated to inject $NZ780,000 into the Tauranga economy.

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