Aussie Cruise Boom Continues
The International Cruise Council of Australia reported yesterday that Aussies going cruising has reached an all time high with more than 185,000 Aussies taking a cruise in 2005, year or year growth at a staggering 18% and Aussies matching the global boom in cruising.
ICCA Chairman Steve O’Dell said yesterday at the launch of the report, appropriately on iconic global cruise destination Sydney Harbour, “Cruising has continued to grow in popularity during the past year with 186,666 Australians opting for a cruise holiday in 2005, compared with 158,415 in 2004”.
He added, “For the first time, Europe and UK, including transatlantic voyages, rivalled Alaska as the most popular cruise destination outside the South Pacific for Australians, attracting 17,737 Australians compared with the 17,965 who chose to cruise Alaska”.
Mr O’Dell said, “Australians are discovering cruising is a relaxing and hassle-free way to holiday in Europe and take their cruises in many different countries and cultures in one trip”.
Nevertheless, Mr O’Dell confirmed that New Zealand and the South Pacific and therefore cruising out of Australia continued to attract the largest numbers of cruisers, following an increase in capacity in the market.
The report showed that the most popular cruises for Aussies were between eight and fourteen days, but there was a slight decrease in the proportion seeking this duration of cruises, but The Mole thinks that this may be determined by the current South Pacific dominant offering with indications that cruisers were also seeking cruises of shorter duration.
Mr O’Dell stressed the importance of travel agents in the cruise booking pattern confirming that the ICCA would continue with their agent cruise training programme and that while other sectors were cutting commissions, cruise lines continued to offer travel agents a steady stream of revenue from commissions, payable on the all inclusive cruise price.
Mr O’Dell added, “Cruising continues to attract new Australian passengers and has now enjoyed a solid four year history of growth, with expectations that number would increase in the future.
Report by The Mole
Graham Muldoon
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