Whilst we are experiencing the best growth phase in our regions cruising history, we should be mindful that natural cyclical ebbs and flows may eventually provide challenges to these record figures. But they ARE challenges we can overcome! Cons: With new fuel laws regulating incrementally by 2020, higher operational costs...
Whilst we are experiencing the best growth
phase in our regions cruising history, we
should be mindful that natural cyclical ebbs
and flows may eventually provide challenges
to these record figures.
But they ARE challenges we can overcome!
Cons: With new fuel laws regulating
incrementally by 2020, higher operational
costs in our waters may eventually have an
impact on pricing, as will newly proposed port
taxes for some local ports. Therefore this
potential increase in cruise fares in years to
come when coupled with our inability to
provide new itineraries due to our limited
domestic port infrastructure (in global terms),
our current local inventory will be tested to
remain as strong as it is.
Pros: Our current 2.7% penetration market
(second highest in the world) means we now
have a LOT of Australians cruising. While
there is a chance we may not continue in
future years to have 68% of them cruising
locally, current cruise passenger satisfaction
ratings of 94%+ (which is extremely high)
indicate our young cruising market will start
to repeat.
And much like the US when their market
first matured, our current market will venture
into new areas such as Asia (which is
predicted to grow strongly), and Europe, who
will have greater deployment once world
economic stability returns, not to forget river
cruising which is on the precipice of record
booms.
Therefore to overcome stagnation, retail
growth is dependent on nurturing clients from
close to home experiences to further afar
cruises, while it is now up to our governments
to keep our domestic appeal strong with
infrastructural support.
