Oz cruising cracks $5b

CRUISE tourism contributed $5.3b to the Australian economy in 2016/17, new figures show.

Cruise Lines Int’l Association (CLIA) Australasia yesterday launched its Cruise Tourism’s Contribution to the Australian Economy 2016-17 report, highlighting the output of the industry and its potential.

The period marked the first time the value of the cruise industry surpassed $5b, signalling a 15.4% hike on last year’s numbers.

While most areas of the report showed positive signs, the rise has eased on the 27% growth recorded the previous year.

NSW remained the top state, claiming 58% of the industry’s contribution, but its share had dropped 10% in two years, due to Sydney reaching capacity.

Qld’s share of the market remained steady, from 21.3% in 2015/16 to 21.1% in 2016/17, followed by Vic which made a small slide from 7.6% to 7.3%.

The remaining states, although making up a small percentage in market share, experienced huge growth in economic output.

Tas saw a colossal 138% jump, while WA leaped 103.9%, SA was up 93.1% and NT by 41.3%.

The sluggish growth of NSW prompted the industry to reiterate calls for a solution to Sydney’s infrastructure crisis.

Steve Odell, chairman CLIA Australasia, emphasised Australia is well placed to benefit from the emerging Asian market as it offers alternate seasonal deployment.

“We can only capitalise on the opportunity if there is somewhere to park the ships,” he said, adding “the Australian cruise industry will continue to grow but we need to get the infrastructure equation right.