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This cruise season, Wellington played host to
76 cruise ships, starting with Radiance of the Seas in October last year.
CentrePort's chief executive Blair O'Keeffe estimated the cruise season would
have boosted Wellington's economy by $30m to $35m and this figure should grow
next season, with 87 cruise boat berthings already booked.
"This coming season [2014/15] there will be bigger vessels carrying more people
so there is a bigger benefit for the economy overall," O'Keeffe said.
Auckland is also expecting a boost, with 95 ships next season, compared with 79
this year.
Ports of Auckland spokeswoman Dee Radhakrishnan said there were fewer visits
this past season because cruising companies were using larger ships.
Radhakrishnan said Carnival Cruise Line's decision to drop three cruises to New
Zealand this summer and fewer round-the-world cruises stopping here had an
impact.
The Government has targeted cruise tourism as a growth market.
Carnival Australia, which owns the Carnival, P&O, Princess Cruises and Cunard
brands and accounts for more than half the cruise ships that visit here, said
despite the cancellation of three cruises last season New Zealand was well
placed to become one of the fastest-growing cruise markets in the world. |
