DESPITE capacity constraints in Sydney, the Australian cruise sector has significant opportunities for growth, according to a panel of the country’s top cruise executives.
Speaking in Auckland this morning at the Cruiseco conference, the industry leaders noted that the equivalent of almost half Australia’s population travelled overseas last year – while just under 6% did a cruise.
Carnival Australia CEO Sture Myrmell also noted that while Sydney’s infrastructure challenges were now impacting the growth of cruise both in NSW and across the region, this could also provide an opportunity to lift yields.
Sydney Harbour’s issues have driven opportunity for other ports, with the panel highlighting new homeporting seasons out of Adelaide and Melbourne – not to mention the expected boom in Queensland cruising driven by Brisbane’s new cruise terminal.
The panellists, who also included the local heads of Royal Caribbean, Crystal, Silversea, Norwegian and Princess, highlighted the importance of travel agents in their distribution strategy, noting that putting a first-time cruiser on the right voyage and cruise line for them “gives you a customer for life”.
More from Cruiseco on page three, as well as in today’s issue of Cruise Weekly.
Source: traveldaily