PASSENGERS and crew on
cruise ships based in or visiting
Australia seasonally contributed
$990 million to Australia’s
economy in the 2014/15 season,
according to new figures.
The annual Cruise Down
Under Economic Impact Report,
compiled for CDU by AEC Group,
showed expenditure was up
from $749 million in the previous
corresponding period.
The initial findings of the report
were flagged during the recent
Cruise Down Under conference in
Darwin (CW 05 Jul), with Australia
seing 46 cruise ships visit 31 ports
across the country, with a grand
total of 876 port calls and 2.4
million passenger days in port.
This was an increase from 773
port calls & 1.9 million passenger
days from the 2013/14 season.
Total economic output grew
5.3% for 2014/15, with the
industry as a whole contributing
$3.3 billion to the Australian
economy, the report stated.
Cruise Down Under chief
executive Jill Abel said the report
showed Australia was benefiting
in many different ways from the
financial impact of cruising.
“The figures show that
Australian cruising is continuing
to be a growth industry, with
strong economic benefits for
all involved and positive signs
that Australian ports still feature
highly on cruise line itineraries.”
The low price of oil saw portrelated
charges fall from $938m
last year to $792 million in 14/15.
Eight new ships will join the
flotilla embarking in Australian
waters this coming year from
lines including P&O Cruises, Royal
Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Costa
Cruises, Holland America Line and
Azamara Club Cruises.
