The New Zealand Government has announced marine safety charges paid by cruise ships will be reduced by almost $5 per passenger, saying it will stimulate this fast growing tourism sector.
Maritime New Zealand is reducing fees from $8.29 to $3.30 per passenger port call from 1 October this year, in time for the start of the 2010/2011 cruise season.
Eighty-one cruise ships and more than 112,000 passengers are expected to have visited New Zealand by the end of the 2009/10 season (year ending August). In total they will make 479 port calls, with each cruise estimated to be worth about $1 million to the New Zealand economy. The sector is expected to grow by a further 30% in the 2010/11 season, with a record season forecast for 2011/12.
