28 Dec 2012

Record number of cruise ship passengers coming to Canterbury

4:47 pm on 28 December 2012

A record number of cruise ship passengers is expected in Christchurch this summer.

Between the end of 2012 and April 2013, 86 ships will drop anchor in Akaroa Harbour, while another four will dock at the Port of Lyttelton, bringing a scheduled 144,000 passengers and more than 50,000 crew members.

Hugh Waghorn, who runs water-based operations in Akaroa, says the influx will go some way towards making up for the drop in tourism being experienced throughout the world.

Mr Waghorn says it is hard to put a monetary value on what the arrivals are worth, but the income boost will allow him to retain all his staff.