It has taken a long time, but the Kiwi cruise sector is now positive about the support being offered by the New Zeal and Government.
Associate Minister for Transport James Meager (pictured) spoke at yesterday’s New Zealand Cruise Association conference in Napier and said cruise is a core part of the New Zealand tourism sector. The sector now has no bigger supporter than the current government, he added. “It has been tough for tourism in general, particularly for cruise. Government hasn’t made that easy,” said Meager. “As a sector you have not felt respected yet alone loved by the Government.” As such, the minister says one of his key messages was to ‘knock that on the head’. “We are taking this issue seriously…we want to build and grow the cruise sector.” Meager said the government will make regulatory decisions to help the sector, and is working with the Ministry of Primary Industries on a better balance around bio-fouling. “New Zealand is open for business when it comes to cruise and tourism; we are committed to working through the issues you face and we do expect our agencies to work closely with you,” he told those at the event.
. . . Response
The NZCA and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) have both welcomed the government’s recent commitment to the Kiwi cruise sector. NZCA ceo Jacqui Lloyd told those at the conference that NZCA is now working with ministry and government on issues including transparency and cost of regulations, with there to be six-monthly cross government meetings, chaired by Minister Louise Upston, for the foreseeable future. “I really want to stress that we do have a very engaged government in that space,” she added. CLIA Australasia md Joel Katz said the various issues that have been raised through CLIA, the NZCA and cruise lines, are indeed being heard by the Kiwi government. “Our industry so often talks about the importance of taking a whole-of-government approach to developing cruise tourism, in a carefully planned and responsible way, and I’m delighted that this is now clearly on the agenda in New Zealand.,” he added.
