‘Let’s cruise’ says PANSW, as price incentives announced

PORT Authority of New South Wales has announced price incentives to encourage cruise lines to visit during the chillier months of the year.

A PANSW spokesperson said the sector was worth billions to the state economy, “supporting tens of thousands of jobs, local businesses and regional communities across the state”.

“Following input from industry stakeholders including cruise lines, Port Authority will introduce pricing incentives from 1 July 2027 to encourage cruise lines to schedule ship calls during the off‑peak season in Sydney, helping to build a sustainable demand and maximise economic benefit,” the spokesperson said.

“New South Wales is investing strongly to support sustainable year-round growth of cruise as part of the visitor economy, from modernising port infrastructure to expanding regional capacity, funding shore-side services and supporting the delivery of unique high-quality passenger experiences across the state.”

According to the Australian Cruise Association, the cruise sector is a major driver of the Australian economy, contributing $7.32 billion in total economic output during the 2024-25 financial year.

The NSW government previously estimated the value of the cruise sector to NSW as being $4.4bn in 2023-24.

While global market conditions are said to be impacting the industry in Australia, Sydney’s appeal remains strong.

Destination NSW data shows strong visitor demand and NSW leading the country in overall visitation.

“Australia competes in a global cruise market where fleet deployment decisions are driven by international demand and profitability, particularly in regions like the Caribbean, North America and Europe that are currently attracting the highest number of passengers,” the spokesperson said.

“Port Authority continues to work with industry and government partners to ensure NSW remains an attractive destination for cruise tourism.”