Cruising is more popular than ever in New Zealand, a new report by the International Cruise Council Australasia (ICCA) has revealed.
In 2011, the number of New Zealanders taking a cruise holiday hit a record high with 56,479 voyaging the seas. The figure represents growth of 32% on the previous year which the ICCA described as “one of the strongest passenger growth rates in the world”.
It is more than double the figure of 2006 when the number of cruise passengers totalled 26,510, indicating an average annual growth rate of more thsn 18%.
ICCA general manager Brett Jardine said the figures underscored the strength of the NZ cruise market.
“While other industries have waivered in these tough economic times, cruising has continued to expand, with its popularity in New Zealand growing significantly,” he said.
“Every year we are seeing more cruise ships sailing New Zealand waters, taking the profile of cruising to new heights and prompting an unprecedented number of Kiwis to take to the seas for their holidays,” he said.
Jardine added that the NZ cruise industry was on target to reach 100,000 passengers by 2020.
NZ cruise gathers force
