Cruise ships to bring in $45m

Cruise ships are expected to inject $45 million into the Tauranga economy as Tourism Bay of Plenty mark a bumper cruise ship season.

In a statement released today Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Rhys Arrowsmith said the industry would continue an "impressive growth" with a projected increase of 25,000 passengers and crew for the 2013/14 season. The rise was up 12 per cent on last year.

More than 240,000 cruise ship passengers and crew were expected this season, making the region the third most visited in New Zealand behind Auckland and Wellington.

Forecasts for the current season show Australian passengers continue to dominate arrivals (80,012), followed by American (33,289) and UK (10,562) travellers. Domestic travellers made just over 6000 arrivals.

The projections represented an injection of $45m into the local economy, Mr Arrowsmith said.

Tourism Bay of Plenty cruise manager Esther Goldsworthy said more than half of passengers to the Bay of Plenty stayed locally.

"Of the cruise ship travellers who are arriving on our shores, approximately 45 per cent are choosing to book tours to Rotorua, Hobbiton or Tauranga, and the remaining 55 per cent are staying locally and visiting the Mount or Tauranga City.

"The flows on effects from these visitors to our region are significant."

The tentative schedule for the 2014/15 season is looking to be on par with this season, with 81 ship visits already booked.