The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the Australian Cruise Association (ACA) published an infographic focusing on the Australian cruise industry and its development for 2018 to 2019, highlighting that the sector experienced an increase of 11.2% in its total value to the national economy in the past year.
-for more information click on the infographic-
According to the report, 18,135 full time jobs were supported by the cruise industry in 2018-19, a 6.6% increase on the previous year. Also, 1,240 cruise ship visits led to 3.8 million passenger and crew visit days, resulting in direct expenditure by passengers, crew and cruise lines totalling $2.5 billion.
CLIA Australasia Managing Director Joel Katz noted that the strong growth in economic contribution resulted primarily by increased spending by cruise passengers.
Total cruise passenger spending in 2018-19 increased 17.4% on the previous year to reach almost AUD 1.4 billion … Cruise passengers now spend an average of AUD 387 each for every day they’re on shore in Australia, which provides enormous benefits to businesses like hotels, restaurants, tour operators and retailers
… Joel Katz, CLIA Australasia Managing Director stated.
Another finding was that at the start or end of a cruise, international visitors spent the most per day on shore, averaging $569 each, compared to domestic travellers who spent $436 per day. Whereas, cruise lines contributed direct expenditure of almost $1.1 billion – an increase of 4.6% on the previous year – spent on items including fuel, food and beverage supplies, port charges and fees, and administration.
Concluding, in 2019 Australia’s cruise industry had to deal with a new tax, with the CLIA opposing to the Biosecurity Imports Levy; The levy would heavily impact Australia’s cruise sector, with CLIA commenting that “There is no justification for hitting cruise lines with charges originally designed for freight.” However, although the levy was supposed to be imposed in July, it was delayed and is still not in force, with the Australian government being pressured to withdraw its proposal.