AUSTRALIA would see a “tremendous amount of additional economic benefit” from the cruise industry if current infrastructure constraints could be addressed, according to the global ceo of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Adam Goldstein. In Sydney yesterday, Goldstein told Cruise Weekly he was deeply frustrated at the situation in NSW particularly,...
AUSTRALIA would see a “tremendous amount of additional economic benefit” from the cruise industry if current infrastructure constraints could be addressed, according to the global ceo of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Adam Goldstein.
In Sydney yesterday, Goldstein told Cruise Weekly he was deeply frustrated at the situation in NSW particularly, where the company sees massive opportunities but is unable to capitalise on them because of capacity issues in Sydney Harbour.
Royal Caribbean has so far grown by successfully deploying larger and larger ships into the Australian market, “but to move forward in some meaningful way is going to take a robust dialogue with the public and private sectors, in NSW and to some degree nationally, working together to identify options – and out of those options at least one or two workable solutions that we can then execute.
“I realise it takes time…what we’re frustrated about is the inability to even start down the path,” he said.
Goldstein said the company believes this is a “phenomenally capable country, state and city – a part of the world that should be able to find solutions to this type of challenge”.
The NSW Government is understood to be close to releasing a new report on the cruise sector commissioned by former state Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres (CW 12 May).
However Goldstein said there had been little consultation with the industry.
“Not only have we not seen the report, we’ve had no input to it.”
The situation has been further complicated with the local growth of rivals such as NCL and Viking Cruises which have taken additional slots at Sydney’s Overseas Passenger Terminal.
If a solution could be found, Goldstein said Royal Caribbean would be likely to significantly grow here.
“I believe every class of ship we have would be attractive in this marketplace given the opportunity,” he said – not ruling out even Oasis-class in the long term if the issues can be solved.
More from RCCL on page four.
