WellingtonNZ.com,
New Zealand 

The Pacific Pearl

This year’s record cruise visitation will be blown out of the water next year, according to CentrePort bookings.

The Pacific Pearl was this week final ship to visit Wellington in what has been a record breaking season worth close to $20 million to the city.

CentrePort Chief Executive Blair O’Keeffe says this year’s cruise season has brought over 125 000 passengers and crew to Wellington. Cruise liner bookings for the 2011/12 season have been confirmed at 80 - representing a 74 % increase in ship visits in the past two years. The coming season is expected to pump some $31 million into Wellington’s economy.

Positively Wellington Tourism Chief Executive David Perks says the cruise sector’s continued growth is vital at what is a challenging time for tourism in the capital and New Zealand.

“Analysts are expecting the Christchurch earthquake’s impact on New Zealand’s tourism industry to be ‘sharp but short’ and Wellington’s numbers are holding up, but we’re still facing pretty uncertain times at present.

“Cruise visitors may just stop by for a day, but they are a vital piece of the tourism puzzle – putting millions of dollars through the tills of the city’s retailers and into the accounts of tour operators.”