ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR Aussie cruise market skyrockets

Posted on 11/06/2015

More than one million Australians took a cruise in 2014, a target they did not expect to reach until 2020. Australia is leading the world in terms of growth in cruise passenger numbers and market penetration. Accounting for 4.5 percent of the world’s 22 million cruise passengers; they rank fourth after the US, Germany and UK/Ireland.

But, the fact that 4.2 percent of the country’s population took a cruise holiday in 2014 means that they are the world’s largest share per population. This is the first time any region has surpassed four percent according to Cruise Lines International Association's latest industry report.

The South Pacific is the most popular cruise destination for Australians, with nearly 400,000 passengers (39 per cent) choosing to holiday in this region last year.

CLIA Australasia commercial director Brett Jardine said the growth in maiden ship visits was another clear indicator of the surging popularity of cruising. “Cruise lines around the world are looking for new destinations and new homeports for their ships, and Australia is hot property right now,” Jardine said.

“Not only do we have fantastic ports to visit and great weather, we also have a population that can’t wait to cruise, and that’s encouraging more cruise lines to send more ships our way.”

Azamara’s Larry Pimentel described their Australian clients. “We find they’re more interested in authentic travel and experiences and they ask more about destinations than any other nationality; they always want to know which new ports and new countries we’re going to.”