ATE MEDIA INFORMATION | CRUISE CAPACITY IN NEW SOUTH WALES

CRUISE CAPACITY IN NEW SOUTH WALESDestination NSW works with cruise lines, ground handlers and the tourism industry to continue to capture the most significant share of the economic benefits delivered by the growing cruise sector.

The NSW cruise shipping industry delivered more than twice the economic benefit received by any other state in Australia during 2013-14 with an increase in cruise ships and with passenger and crew days growing by more than 7% from 2012-13 figures. And, for the first time, cruise passenger days through Sydney ports exceeded more than one million. Sydney received around $1.909 billion in cruise-related expenditure while the Port of Newcastle received $17.488 million and the Port of Eden $0.4 million.

In response to the need for long term planning, the NSW Government committed Destination NSW to lead the development of a 10-year Cruise Development Plan as part of its agreed actions under the NSW Visitor Economy Industry Action Plan. The strategy has been developed in consultation with key industry and Government stakeholders with recommendations due to be presented in late 2015.

CRUISING INTO NSW

The cruise industry is looking forward to another bumper year in 2015-16 with 299 ships already booked in to use Port Authority of New South Wales facilities in Sydney.

Sydney is Australia’s premier cruise ship destination and the only city in Australia with two dedicated cruise-passenger terminals. The number of cruise ships based in Australia year-round is at a record high with Carnival Cruise Line, P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises set to operate 10 ships offering hundreds of itineraries between them.

The Port Authority of New South Wales has upgraded the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay, installing a new mooring point and refurbishing the terminal building to handle the larger cruise ships. To assist with the growth of cruise ships into Sydney, the White Bay Cruise Terminal located near the Anzac Bridge near Balmain was opened in 2013. Both terminals are a short distance from Sydney’s major tourist attractions and shopping centres, and are within 30 minutes of Sydney Airport.

Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean International has announced that its Ovation of the Seas will use Sydney as its homeport when it arrives in December 2016. Ovation will join fleet mates Radiance, Voyager, Explorer and Legend of the Seas. Carrying around 5,000 passengers and a crew of 1,500, it will be the largest cruise ship to ever sail out of Australia, as well as being the most technologically

TOP: QUEEN MARY 2 IN SYDNEY HARBOUR. BOTTOM: CRUISE SHIP DOCKED AT CIRCULAR QUAY.

advanced vessel in the region. Amazing features such as a skydiving simulator, surf simulator, bumper cars and the 90m-high Northstar viewing capsule are set to take the industry to the next level.

The state’s other cruise-ship ports are the Port of Newcastle (gateway to The Hunter) and the Port of Eden (which accesses the South Coast). NSW ports provide visitors with diverse local attractions as well as a range of destinations and experiences in surrounding areas.

ECONOMIC BOUNTY OF CRUISING TO NSW

Cruise Down Under (CDU) reported on the outstanding growth of the Australian cruise industry in the last ten years in the Economic Impact Assessment of the Cruise Shipping Industry in Australia, 2013-14, published in September 2014.

The report revealed that the economic benefits of cruise, both international and domestic total output, had risen to $3.16 billion in 2013-14, up from $2.73 billion in 2012-13.

NSW remains the state with the largest economic impact resulting from the cruise shipping industry. In 2013-14, NSW was base port for more than 10 major cruise ships and recorded significant increase in cruise ship days in port (267 days, up from 252 days), and passenger days at port (1.04 million days, up from 989,512 days). The NSW economic impact from the industry reached $1.93 billion in 2013-14, up from $1.64 billion.

Cruise demand for Sydney, and cruise ship visits, are soaring. According to the CDU report, Sydney notched up 256 cruise ship visits in 2013-14, an increase on the year prior. Sydney achieved 1.02 million passenger days at port in 2013-14, up from 970,560 days in previous year. The latest figures from The Port Authority of NSW estimate Sydney will host 278 cruise ships in 2014-15 resulting in 291 cruise ship days in port. This is up 6.5% on the 2013-14 season.

Regional NSW ports in Newcastle and Eden have also been busy with Newcastle hosting nine cruise ship visits during 2014-15. Ten cruise ships are already booked for the 2015-16 season, five of which are maiden visits including the Pacific Jewel, Pacific Aria, Azamara Quest, Queen Elizabeth and Insignia. Eden played host to three cruise ships in 2014-15 and already has nine booked for 2015-16. Five ships will undertake maiden visits including the Pacific Dawn, Pacific Eden, Pacific Jewel, M.S. Marina and Nordam.

PASSENGER SURVEY

The Sydney Cruise Passenger Survey 2013-14, published by Destination NSW in March 2015, revealed that international passengers accounted for 14% of total cruise passenger days in Sydney and 17% of passenger expenditure in Sydney for the year ($73.9 million).

In 2013-14, domestic passengers accounted for 86% of total cruise passenger days in Sydney and 83% of passenger expenditure in Sydney ($361.7 million).

More than a third of international cruise passengers who visited Sydney were from the USA (35%), United Kingdom (22%) and other Europe (15%). The overall satisfaction in Sydney was very high with 97% of passengers and 98% of crew being “very satisfied” and “satisfied”. The most popular activities undertaken by cruise passengers in Sydney were visiting attractions (81%), followed by shopping (46%) and dining (35%). Passengers who travelled outside Sydney on day trip were most likely to have visited the Blue Mountains (12%), Central Coast (6%) and the South Coast (6%).

CRUISE SHIP PASSING UNDER THE SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE

FOR MORE INFORMATIONsydney.com, visitnsw.com

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PR CONTACTAllison Lee Director, Media & Public Relations Destination NSW +61 (0) 2 9931 1318 / +61 (0) 437 490 187 allison.lee@dnsw.com.au

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