The Value of Cruise Tourism 2024/25
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
This report, commissioned by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia in partnership with the New Zealand Cruise Association (NZCA), provides a comprehensive economic impact assessment of cruise tourism in New Zealand for the 2024-25 season. The findings highlight the critical role cruise tourism plays in New Zealand’s economy, not only in generating substantial revenue but also in creating employment opportunities and supporting diverse regional communities.
ECONOMIC IMPACT OF CRUISE TOURISM
In 2024-25, cruise tourism generated a total economic output of NZ$1.23 billion across New Zealand. This figure reflects direct expenditure from passengers, crew, and cruise lines, alongside the ripple effects of indirect and induced spending. Total direct output reached NZ$574.6 million, while indirect and induced impacts added an additional NZ$657.5 million to the economy. Across 25 ports and destinations, cruise activity supported 8,253 jobs nationwide and generated NZ$384.2 million in wages for New Zealand workers. While this represents a 9.8% year-on-year contraction, the sector continues to demonstrate significant economic value, particularly through its strong regional dispersal and broad supply-chain benefits.
Key figures include:
• Total output: NZ$1.23 billion
• Direct output: NZ$574.6 million
• Direct wages: NZ$178.9 million
• Indirect and induced wages: NZ$205.3 million
• Supported employment: 8,253 persons employed (3,858 direct and 4,395 indirect/induced)
• Total value added: NZ$613.1 million
Table E1 New Zealand economic impacts of cruise tourism
| Impact | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Output ($M) | ||||
| Direct | $637.8 | $574.6 | -$63.2 | -9.9% |
| Indirect & Induced | $728.9 | $657.5 | -$71.4 | -9.8% |
| Total | $1,366.7 | $1,232.1 | -$134.6 | -9.8% |
| Income ($M) | ||||
| Direct | $198.5 | $178.9 | -$19.6 | -9.9% |
| Indirect & Induced | $227.3 | $205.3 | -$22.0 | -9.7% |
| Total | $425.8 | $384.2 | -$41.6 | -9.8% |
| Employment (PE) | ||||
| Direct | 4,560 | 3,858 | -702 | -15.4% |
| Indirect & Induced | 5,183 | 4,395 | -788 | -15.2% |
| Total | 9,743 | 8,253 | -1,490 | -15.3% |
| Value Added ($M) | ||||
| Direct | $319.0 | $287.0 | -$32.0 | -10.0% |
| Indirect & Induced | $361.9 | $326.1 | -$35.8 | -9.9% |
| Total | $680.8 | $613.1 | -$67.8 | -10.0% |
Notes: Direct output or more accurately cruise tourism output is estimated by removing taxes and subsidies and imports (e.g. fuel) from cruise tourism expenditure. Direct impacts represent the economic activity of the cruise sector. Indirect and induced impacts are the expenditure generated by the spending of the direct cruise tourism output by businesses (indirect) and their employees (induced). Source: AEC
The economic benefits of cruise tourism are far-reaching, with 25 ports and destinations across New Zealand benefiting from over 860 cruise ship visits in 2024-25. This dispersed visitation ensures that regional economies, from Auckland to Fiordland, receive substantial economic injections through visitor spending and cruise line operations.
JOB CREATION AND WAGE CONTRIBUTIONS
One of the most significant findings of the report is the support of over 8,200 jobs throughout New Zealand. These jobs are spread across direct and indirect employment in a variety of industries such as tourism, hospitality, retail, transport, and port services. Total wages paid to New Zealand workers from cruise tourism amounted to NZ$384.2 million.
Cruise tourism is a vital employment engine, especially in regional areas where cruise ships often serve as a crucial source of revenue for local businesses. This employment spans a wide array of sectors, creating opportunities for both skilled and unskilled workers, and contributing to the livelihood of thousands of New Zealanders.
REGIONAL ECONOMIC IMPACT
Cruise tourism’s impact extends well beyond the major urban centres, delivering benefits to communities throughout the North and South Islands. The North Island, with its strong concentration of ports, recorded a total economic output of NZ$916.1 million, supporting over 6,000 jobs. Meanwhile, the South Island, renowned for its natural beauty and popular cruise destinations such as Fiordland and Dunedin, saw an economic impact of NZ$315.5 million, supporting over 2,100 jobs.
Notable regions benefiting from cruise tourism include:
• Auckland, the gateway for many international visitors, saw NZ$600.6 million in total economic output and supported 3,930 jobs.
• Otago (Dunedin) recorded NZ$128.7 million in total output, with 893 jobs supported.
• Canterbury (Christchurch, Akaroa) experienced NZ$116.7 million in output, supporting 806 jobs.
Cruise tourism also supports smaller regions of New Zealand such as:
• Hawke’s Bay with NZ$71.9 million in total output, supporting 499 jobs.
• Marlborough recording NZ$36.4 million in output, with 246 jobs supported
These figures highlight the importance of cruise tourism in spreading economic benefits to a wide range of communities, contributing to local economies through visitor spending and the use of regional services.
KEY CRUISE TOURISM STATISTICS
The 2024-25 cruise tourism season saw 860 visits to 25 ports/destinations by 46 different cruise ships. Of these 83 visits were turnaround, or exchange, visits which represented 179,160 passenger days in port. Almost 1.1 million passenger days were spent in transit.
Passenger and crew expenditures were derived by combining past expenditure estimates by StatsNZ (2020) and Market Economics Limited (2014) and indexed by the consumers price index (CPI) (StatsNZ, 2025) to 2024-25 values.
Cruise line expenditure was sourced via survey from Asia Pacific CLIA members and extrapolated to the entire population of cruise lines and their operations in New Zealand.
Cruise tourism statistics for the 2024-25 season are summarised below.
Table E2 New Zealand cruise tourism statistics
| Statistic | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand ports/destinations visited | 21 | 25 | 4 | 19.0% |
| Visiting Cruise Ship Characteristics | ||||
| Number | 54 | 46 | -8 | -14.8% |
| Passenger Capacity | 72,989 | 67,882 | -5,107 | -7.0% |
| Crew Capacity | 34,414 | 30,626 | -3,788 | -11.0% |
| Cruise Ship Visits | ||||
| Turnaround | 76 | 83 | 7 | 9.2% |
| Transit | 935 | 777 | -158 | -16.9% |
| Total | 1,011 | 860 | -151 | -14.9% |
| Cruise Ship Visit Days | ||||
| Turnaround/Exchange | 80 | 89 | 9 | 11.3% |
| Transit | 944 | 793 | -151 | -16.0% |
| Total | 1,024 | 882 | -142 | -13.9% |
| Passenger & Crew Visit Days | ||||
| Turnaround Passengers | 195,014 | 179,160 | -15,854 | -8.1% |
| Transit Passengers | 1,358,866 | 1,079,543 | -279,323 | -20.6% |
| Total Passenger Visit Days | 1,553,880 | 1,258,703 | -295,177 | -19.0% |
| Crew | 318,438 | 204,534 | -113,904 | -35.8% |
| Total | 1,872,318 | 1,463,237 | -409,081 | -21.8% |
| Direct Expenditure ($M) | ||||
| Turnaround Passengers | $137.1 | $128.5 | -$8.6 | -6.3% |
| Transit Passengers | $302.4 | $265.2 | -$37.1 | -12.3% |
| Total Passenger Spend | $439.5 | $393.7 | -$45.7 | -10.4% |
| Crew | $23.5 | $17.6 | -$6.0 | -25.4% |
| Cruise Lines | $317.6 | $260.6 | -$56.9 | -17.9% |
| Total | $780.6 | $671.9 | -$108.7 | -13.9% |
Note: (a) As reported by NZCA. Source: NZCA, AEC
CONCLUSION
This report clearly demonstrates the significant value of cruise tourism to New Zealand’s economy. With a total economic contribution of NZ$1.23 billion, it is evident that the cruise industry is a key pillar of New Zealand’s tourism sector. By supporting over 8,200 jobs and generating hundreds of millions of dollars in wages, cruise tourism offers vital economic benefits, not only to major cities but also to regional communities across the country.
While cruise tourism continues to deliver substantial value to New Zealand, the year-on-year decline across several indicators signals increasing competitiveness pressures, attributed to higher operating costs, increasing fees and regulatory complexity. The decline reflects reduced ship deployment and visit days rather than declining passenger interest. Maintaining and growing New Zealand’s share of global cruise deployment will require policy coordination.