NZCA pleads for cruise certainty

d, New Zealand Cruise Association (NZCA) has escalated its ongoing calls for the country’s Government to urgently set reopening dates for its shuttered cruise sector, with the current impasse likely to have a significant impact on deployment decisions.

NZCA Chief Executive Officer Kevin O’Sullivan said “the continuing silence from Government on reopening our maritime borders is squandering the enormous contribution that the NZ cruise sector could make in providing desperately needed revenue to help regional tourism operators survive into 2023”.

He noted that the ongoing lack of certainty was continuing to put at risk hundreds of ailing tourism businesses which support the sector around the country.

“New Zealand has already lost 250 port calls and around NZD$150 million in revenue due to the uncertainty on when the border will open,” he said.

“Cruise lines need time to plan their schedules for the 2022-23 cruise season and time is rapidly running out.

“More than 80 countries around the world are now open to cruise, including Australia...we know there is considerable pent-up demand among travellers for cruise, but international cruise lines are unwilling to put New Zealand on their list because we are still closed.”

Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic the cruise sector contributed NZD$550 million to New Zealand’s economy, meaning the country has lost more than NZD$1 billion in the more than two years since its borders were closed.

“This can’t continue...we cannot lose another cruise season without a serious breakdown in our ability to service all visitors to New Zealand,” O’Sullivan said.

He highlighted the leadership taken by the cruise sector in terms of COVID health measures, with all passengers and crews required to be vaccinated and regularly tested.

“Ventilation has been enormously enhanced and there are extensive proven health measures on board,” he added, noting that the impact is falling most heavily on regions which rely on cruise ship income in the summer months, particularly while international tourism is still in the recovery phase.

“The Government must announce urgently when the maritime border will open or we will continue to see yet more cancellations, and we will all miss out on the vital opportunities that cruise offers to our communities.”