| Spotlight on ICCA: Passenger Statistics

There has certainly been plenty of
positive media coverage around this
week’s release of our Australian Cruise
Industry Report for 2011 – but what does it
mean for you?
Statistics and graphs may not be the sort
of thing that many of you choose to look at
in your spare time but I would urge you to
take a moment to digest where the
Australian cruise industry is at and consider
the positive implications of this report for
the entire region.
The 34% growth in Australians cruising
closely mirrored the increase in capacity in
local waters that we experienced in 2011.
We have had a history of utilising the
available capacity locally and this also puts
our long term growth in a good position
with repeat cruise passengers looking
further afield for their next cruise.
One of the most exciting statistics to
come out of the ICCA report is the fact that
Australia’s market/population penetration
rate has now reached 2.7%.
This is a figure that is closely monitored
by Cruise Line executives that will give
them the confidence to continue their
focus on deploying ships into our waters.
More ships in our local waters are one of
the driving factors behind a growing
consumer awareness of cruising which is
driving greater demand through our retail
distribution channels.
New data released as part of our report
this year showed where Australian cruise
passengers reside.
Interesting was the disproportionate
number coming from QLD (24%) over VIC
(16%) given a similar
population base.
For once it is not NSW
being thrashed by QLD!
Come on Victoria, the
challenge has been set
for 2012.
We will be releasing
the New Zealand Cruise
Industry report next Tue.