Cruise New Zealand Economic Impact Report

Report: CNZ_Economic_Impact_Report_2009101112.pdf

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release
Thursday 30th September, 2010

A commissioned report released today shows that New Zealand’s holiday cruise market has emerged as a tourism and economic powerhouse, however it is at significant risk without an investment in cruise infrastructure, according to Cruise New Zealand.

New Zealand’s cruise industry is expected to inject $346 million into the New Zealand economy during the 2011/2012 season, including providing 5,606 jobs. With an 82 percent increase on the 2009/2010 season, cruise passenger numbers are predicted to be around 200,000, pumping millions of new spend into the economy.

Each passenger that travels on a ship to New Zealand injects around $1,700 into New Zealand’s economy.

The report, commissioned by Cruise New Zealand, states that in spite of the global financial crisis, the cruise industry is recording strong growth. However there is an ongoing concern that port facilities, particularly in Auckland, will not sustain that growth.

Craig Harris, chairman of Cruise New Zealand and chief executive of ISS-McKay in Auckland, says that the forecast for New Zealand’s cruise industry is huge.

“For the coming season, cruise will be New Zealand’s fourth largest international visitor market, behind Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Our ongoing forecasts show that cruise is on track to become New Zealand’s third largest inbound tourism market by the end of the 2011/2012 season.”

“New Zealand is now an established cruise destination and will continue to benefit from global growth.”

“However, without guaranteed investment in cruise infrastructure, particularly in Auckland where over $177.4 million is to be spent directly in the local economy, the potential for increased growth to continue is minimal,” said Mr Harris.

The Auckland region and the Ports of Auckland are the most significant areas of passenger and crew exchanges and industry expenditure in New Zealand.

With more and larger ships forecast to visit New Zealand in the coming years, Auckland’s Princes Wharf is no longer adequate. The industry’s key concern at present is for the decision of a centrally-based cruise terminal that will be future-proof for larger ships, said Mr Harris.

Additional concerns include berth congestion, processing such a large volume of people and adequately transporting them around the region. This congestion with berthage and logistics will also become a problem for the other ports around New Zealand.

“With passenger port days anticipated to break the one million mark for the 2011/2012 season it is imperative to the industry that appropriate cruise infrastructure is developed,” says Mr Harris.
Cruise New Zealand is the advocacy body of New Zealand's cruise sector, where its objectives include maintaining New Zealand's capability as a cruise-friendly destination.
For the 2009/2010 cruise season, 109,951 passengers visited New Zealand contributing over $191 million to New Zealand’s GDP.

ENDS

Report: CNZ_Economic_Impact_Report_2009101112.pdf

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