In New Zealand major Hawke’s Bay tourism business has voiced concerns about increased berthing charges at Napier Port which it fears is discouraging cruise liners from visiting the region.
Pete Patterson, general manager of bus company Nimon & Sons, says the port’s fees and conditions are undermining a multi-million dollar investment his company and others have made to cater to the cruise industry.
The criticism follows recent concerns from fruit and produce exporters who have complained about delays in getting their products through the port.
Mr Patterson says he has been “seriously concerned” to see cruise ship bookings into Napier Port for the 2015-16 season appear and then disappear from the port’s schedule, with one international cruise apparently shifting its itinerary from Napier to Gisborne’s Eastland Port.
He is worried the move is in relation to an increase in tariffs at Napier Port which has seen the cost of berthing a full-size cruise liner increase from $42,000 to more than $55,000.
