CRUISE Lines International Association managing director Australasia Joel Katz is feeling bullish about the Kiwi cruise sector, describing “positive engagement” between government, ports and industry.
Mr Katz spoke after Port of Auckland chief executive Robin Gray was quoted in local newspaper The Post as calling for a “more customer-focused positive attitude” to arrest a cruise tourism decline.
Mr Gray raised concerns that cruise liner megaship visits to Auckland were at their lowest levels on record, with Aotearoa having gained the unfortunate nickname of ‘No Zealand’ for seemingly saying “no” to everything.
This reputation was made clear during a recent cruise conference in Miami, US, he said.
Mr Gray said in recent times, cruise liners had faced:
Mr Gray spoke of the port’s vital economic role and the new $80 million wharves project including a new cruise terminal in the bottom floor of the port’s multi-storey carpark.
He was heartened by what he said was the New Zealand Coalition government’s “much more customer-focused positive attitude”.
Mr Katz said by listening and addressing barriers and costs, “[Port of Auckland management] are sending a powerful message that New Zealand is open for business and serious about building a competitive cruise economy”.
But Australia needed to play its part.
Mr Katz said Australia was now seeing a decline in cruise sector capacity and economic impact, as other regions sought a piece of the action.
“It is imperative that the Australian government recognise the challenge, partner with the industry, and act decisively,” he said.
He hoped progress in New Zealand would act as “the impetus for a broader, coordinated Trans-Tasman cruise recovery”.
“Our industry generates more than US$168 billion a year for local economies in destinations all over the world,” Mr Katz told DCN.