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With the anticipated decrease in cruise ship visits projected for the upcoming season, regions like the Bay of Plenty are preparing for the downturn and what it could mean for the region.
Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Oscar Nathan spoke to Inside Tourism on the implications of this development and outlines possible strategies to mitigate its impact.
“The New Zealand Cruise Association has noted there’s been a ‘significant drop’ in the number of port calls that are being estimated for the country’s 2024/2025 season which, in turn, has impacted the number of cruise ships that we can expect to welcome into Tauranga Harbour,” says Oscar.
However, despite this, he says Tauranga remains a sought-after destination for cruise passengers.
“Tauranga remains a popular destination for passengers and most are usually highly satisfied with their onshore experiences while they are here. That’s presumably why our region’s share of the cruise ship bookings, compared to other New Zealand ports, is holding steady,” he says.
Despite the challenges, Oscar emphasises Tourism Bay of Plenty’s commitment to collaboration with key stakeholders to maximize the region’s tourism potential.
“We’ll continue to work closely with the Port of Tauranga, cruise lines, and local tourism operators, as well as the New Zealand Cruise Association (which I’m on the Board of) to maximise the value and opportunities that these international visitors bring to our region,” Oscar says.
In addition, he highlights ongoing efforts to understand and address stakeholder perceptions of the cruise sector through a regional study conducted in partnership with Priority One and KPMG.
“We already have a significant regional study underway, in association with Priority One and KPMG, which is looking into key stakeholder perceptions of the cruise sector in Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty.”
While cruise ship passengers contribute significantly to the region’s tourism, Oscar emphasises the diverse approach employed to attract international visitors.
“It’s also important to note cruise ship passengers aren’t the only source of international visitors that travel to our region. We have an active trade and marketing focus that is consistently working alongside various travel partners, such as Tourism New Zealand, to promote our region to a range of international visitor markets to entice travel here,”
“Tourism is a very agile sector – we’re used to dealing with micro and macro influences which can impact visitor trends.”
