New figures from Stats NZ show the cruise industry continues to pick up steam in New Zealand, with total cruise expenditure reaching $434 million for the year ended in June.
That's an increase of 18.3 percent on 2017 figures, and last year's growth of $67.1 million was also itself nearly a 10 percent increase on 2016.
- Record number of New Zealanders taking cruise ship holidays
- Onboard Symphony of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship
GST intake from cruise visitor spending totalled $43.4 million for the year.
Last year, 259,000 people took a cruise. The increase was partially driven by growth in the number of Kiwis and Americans taking a cruise around New Zealand.
Auckland received 211,000 passengers - up nine percent on the previous year - and Dunedin received 11 percent more with 180,000 passenger arrivals.
Newshub.
