By
Rebecca Gibson |
More than 211,430 passengers and 82,400 crew members onboard 37 ships visited New Zealand’s ports last season, contributing around NZ$310 million to the economy and generating 5,330 jobs.
The figures indicate a 22 per cent rise in passengers and a seven per cent growth in economic contribution compared to the 2011-2012 season.
According to an economic report released by Cruise New Zealand, increasing numbers of American cruise passengers are visiting the ports of New Zealand. While more than half of passengers visiting New Zealand ports were Australian, the number of American visitors increased by almost a fifth during the 2012-2013 season, accounting for the majority of the country’s exchange passengers.
Exchange guests, who begin or end their cruises in New Zealand, generate increased economic benefits by paying for airfares, hotel accommodation, and pre- or post-cruise travel around the country. Ports also gain additional revenue through operators who need to reprovision for the next onward cruise.
Auckland, the country’s key exchange port, reported NZ$116 million in economic benefits last year. The port it expected to achieve further growth as it attracts more exchange cruises next season.
Cruise New Zealand is scheduled to handle 33 ships, 121 voyages, 200,000 passengers and 78,000 crew members in the 2013-2014 season. The organisation also predicts it will gain a total of NZ$311 million in revenue, with the ports of Northland, Nelson, Otago and Southland all expecting economic growth.