Cruise Down Under has released its 10th consecutive report into the benefits of the cruise sector to the Australian economy. The definitive national and regional independent study has become an authoritative report relied upon by governments, industry, academia and the media. The report has captured the history of a sector that has delivered outstanding growth in the tourism industry and benefited both capital city and regional destinations.

In 2013-14 the economic benefits of cruise, both international and domestic, to the Australian economy has a total output value of $3.16 billion, an increase of 16% over 2012-13.

Chairman of Cruise Down Under, Stephen Bradford, said “the findings of the 2013-14 report represent a truly amazing picture of the ten year growth of the cruise industry. Total direct industry expenditure has reached $1.85 billion, increasing by 30% per annum from just under $155 million in 2004-05.”

“The study revealed total expenditure by the international cruise shipping industry in Australia in 2013-14 was estimated at $2.1 billion compared to $1.9 billion in 2012-13,” Mr Bradford said.

“In addition to the international expenditure, the study considered the effects of domestic spending. It identified that when domestic passenger spending is added back into the economic effects, the total expenditure grows to $3.16 billion.”

“The CDU study has captured a robust picture of what is now a substantial sector of the tourism industry and has been able to independently support government and private business in the development of the cruise sector”, Mr Bradford said.

Since the first economic impact of the cruise shipping industry in Australia was compiled in 2004-05 there has been significant growth in all areas of the industry.

The key growth indicators from 2003-04 to 2013-14 are:

The number of ports visited has doubled from 16 to 32.

The number of cruise ships visiting has almost doubled from 23 to 45.

The passenger capacity of visiting ships has increased by 11% per annum from 24,380 to 63,335.

The number of cruise ship visits has grown by 10% per annum from 325 to 773.

The percentage of base visits to total visits has grown from a low of 32% in 2007-08 to a high of 85% in 2012-13.

Total passenger days in port has grown by 20% per annum from 366,322 to 1.956 million.

Estimated total passenger expenditure has increased by 26% per annum to reach $675.6 million.

The Executive Summary of the report can be found on the Cruise Down Under website at www.cruisedownunder.com under reports.