215 in cruise numbers is a knock-on effect of the Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Australia welcomed guests on 1,400 visit days in 2022-2023, and expects 1,800 visit days in 2023-2024. Abel explained that the value of cruise tourism in Australia shows a total of AUS$5.6 billion (US$3.6 billion) of direct and indirect economic output. North America remains the largest source market for cruise guests visiting the South Pacific Islands, but there’s a growing number of cruise passengers from Western Europe and Asia, according to Cocker. He also noted that the top five destinations for cruise passengers in the region in 2022 included New Caledonia (44 per cent), French Polynesia (31 per cent), Fiji (11 per cent), Tonga (6 per cent) and Samoa (6 per cent). Cocker also outlined the cruise tourism challenges facing the South Pacific region. He noted that the distance between islands results in long travel times for passengers, which impacts how cruise operators plan their itineraries. In addition, port facilities vary across the South Pacific Islands, so several islands could benefit if they invest in better infrastructure and services. Diana Chin Choi, CEO of Tahiti Nui Travel, echoed this sentiment in a later session, saying: “The challenge is the level of development being different in whole French Polynesia depending on the islands. It is not a mass volume destination.” She also discussed why a lack of available shore excursions may lead to cruise lines deciding not to operate in certain South Pacific islands. “Shore excursions are limited to the capacity of the island,” said Chin Choi. “Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora have good infrastructures and can accommodate a large number of passengers. However, there is an issue when two cruise ships are at the same place at the same time as the shore excursion providers have to split their capacity.” Environmental and cultural conservation The South Pacific region is also facing environmental challenges with limited resources that must be protected. The forum session on sustainability highlighted that cruises in the region must meet environmental standards. The Pacific Sustainable Tourism Standard has been aligned with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and organised around four main themes: sustainable management, Members of the South Pacific Cruise Alliance last met in Tahiti in October 2023
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