Cruise liners to inject estimated $3m into Fiji economy

MARY RAUTO
Fiji Times Story - Saturday, May 30, 2009

Update: 12:29PM FIJI is expected to receive at least $3million from the remaining 70 cruise vessels scheduled to visit our shores via Pacific Agencies (Fiji) Limited this year.

Company spokesman Bradley Bower said a total of 70 cruise vessels for PAFL alone were scheduled to call into Fiji for 2009.
He said these vessels would call into Suva, Lautoka, Savusavu, Dravuni, Denarau, Taveuni, Kioa, Rabi, Beqa and Yasawa group of islands.
The $3.15m estimated revenue excludes port fees, employment and earnings of companies involved in handling cruise ships, cruise ship passengers booking on tours within port limits.
Mr Bower said each cruise vessel 1500 to 2000 passengers and an estimated $30 per person was spent at a port.

He said the global economic crisis did not have much effect on the cruise holidaymakers because many bookings were made two years in advance. For those traveling passengers, majority have paid for their cruise holidays two years prior and are still traveling regardless, he said.
The effect of this world recession affects those booking now for one to two years on.

Those numbers may be limited and cruise companies will be looking at what savings can be made that provides them incentives to continue selling your port among all others available.
One of PAFLs cruise vessel Dawn Princess berthed at the Kings Wharf in Suva on Thursday.