Cruise lines have called on the New Zealand Government to overturn plans for a 136% increase in cruise visitor fees, which threatens to accelerate an alarming downturn in cruise tourism around the country.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) warned a multi-million dollar increase in border processing fees planned by New Zealand Customs would worsen a costs crisis that was already harming New Zealand businesses and local communities.
“While cruise tourism is at record levels internationally, New Zealand destinations face a 22% fall in cruise visitors during the upcoming summer season, largely due to high costs and regulatory complexities,” said Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Managing Director in Australasia Joel Katz.
“Cruise lines have been forced to reduce their deployments in New Zealand, which is now one of the most expensive destinations in the world for cruise operations,” Mr Katz said. “Even before this Customs increase, New Zealand communities are facing estimated losses of at least $157 million in reduced tourism over the 2024/25 season.”
Mr Katz said the New Zealand Customs Service proposal would add millions of dollars in costs to cruise operations, despite warnings from cruise lines that existing costs had become prohibitive.
“New Zealand is one of the most desirable cruise destinations in the world and cruise lines have invested heavily over many years to develop international cruise operations in local waters,” Mr Katz said. “Cruise tourism is ordinarily worth more than $500 million a year to communities around the coast of New Zealand, but this is now threatened by a succession of exorbitant cost increases by ports and government agencies.”
CLIA and its cruise line members have called on the New Zealand Government to intervene in the planned Customs fee increase and adopt a whole-of-government strategy to foster a well-managed cruise tourism economy. CLIA has welcomed the National Cruise Strategy announced recently by the New Zealand Cruise Association (NZCA), which aims to increase the economic and social benefits of cruise tourism through collaboration between government, ports and destinations, tourism operators and cruise lines.
(Cruise industry calls on Government to overturn crippling NZ tourism tax – CLIA Australasia)
Tags: CLIA Australasia (Int. Cruise Council Australasia ICCA)
Appeared first on: Latecruisenews.com
