CRUISE Lines’ peak body in Australasia has joined forces with farmers, food suppliers, tourism operators, travel agents, ports and other industry leaders to launch the Australian Paddock to Port Alliance.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) says the Alliance is behind a new national campaign making the economic case for a strong and competitive cruise sector. At the same time, CLIA has taken the opportunity to call for co-ordinated efforts to halt the shrinkage in the cruise sector in Australia, which it says is currently contributing $1 billion less to the economy than previously.
The new Alliance and national campaign will highlight the businesses behind every cruise ship visit, from the produce loaded on board and the suppliers who deliver it, to the hotels, tour operators, transport providers, retailers and regional communities that benefit when cruise ships choose Australia.
According to the Australia’s Paddock to Port Economic Impact Report released yesterday [4 August] cruise contributes more than $7.3 billion in annual economic activity in Australia and supports more than 22,000 Australian jobs. Cruise lines spend around $1.5 billion in Australia each year, supporting suppliers, service providers, port operations and the wider visitor economy, CLIA says.
Across Australia, cruise passengers spend around $1.8 billion, including on accommodation, shore excursions, retail, transport, dining and other visitor spending. Passenger spending includes almost $400 million on food and beverages ashore, around $250 million on shore excursions, around $210 million on retail purchases and around $210 million on transportation.
CLIA executive director Joel Katz said “Cruise is more than ships. It is an Australian economic ecosystem that supports businesses, jobs and communities across the country. However, the sector's economic contribution has fallen by almost A$1 billion.
“Cruise lines have been warning that Australia is becoming uncompetitive as a destination and risks losing cruise tourism to other countries, due to regulatory uncertainties and rising costs. This is despite the fact that demand is very strong and Aussies are cruising in record numbers.
“Every cruise that comes to Australia creates activity before, during and after the voyage, from the food loaded on board, to the hotels passengers stay in, the tours they book, the transport they use and the local businesses they support, Mr Katz said.
“We are asking for stable, practical and competitive settings so Australia can continue to attract cruise ships, passengers and investment.”
Alliance members include Select Fresh Providores, whose Steve Biviano said “for businesses like ours, cruise is not an abstract industry. It is real orders, real produce, real staff and real planning".
"On an average 10-day cruise, a ship can consume around 3,500 kilograms of watermelons, 1,400 kilograms of tomatoes, 4,000 litres of milk, 4,000 dozen fresh eggs, 3,200 kilograms of chicken and 2,000 kilograms of beef," Mr Biviano said.
Michael Guerin, CEO of the National Farmers’ Federation, added that when ships are provisioned in Australia, they create demand for fresh produce, meat, dairy, seafood, wine and other Australian goods.
“Cruise may start at the port, but the economic activity reaches back to paddocks, processing facilities, transport networks and regional businesses,” he said.
Margy Osmond, CEO, Tourism and Transport Forum, said cruise was not a narrow industry issue, but a whole-of-economy issue.
“The numbers are significant, but the real story is the breadth of businesses and jobs connected to every ship visit, the people whose livelihoods depend on a strong cruise economy," Ms Osmond said.