Dunedin will receive the lion's share of the $32 million expected to be generated in Otago by the coming cruise-ship season.
Cruise New Zealand released its annual economic impact report at a conference in Auckland yesterday.
It calculated Otago would receive $32 million in ''value-add'' from the 2013-14 cruise season.
Ships visiting Otago dock at Port Chalmers and Dunedin.
The last season, between October 2012 and April this year, contributed about $31.5 million to the region's economy.
It was New Zealand's largest cruise-ship season to date, comprising more than 200,000 passengers and contributing just over $310 million nationwide.
''This represents growth in passenger arrivals of 21.6% and a growth of 7.3% in economic contribution compared to the 2011-12 season,'' Cruise New Zealand said.
The coming cruise season was expected to bring slightly fewer ships and passengers to New Zealand. Last season there were 129 voyages made to New Zealand by 37 ships, carrying 211,430 passengers and 82,400 crew members.
It comprised 763 ''port days'' and the trade generated the equivalent of 5330 jobs.
The coming season was expected to involve 121 voyages by 33 ships, with 739 port days, 200,000 passengers and 78,000 crew members.
It would generate about $311 million and 5361 jobs. Auckland was in line to receive the largest chunk ($115.5 million), followed by Bay of Plenty ($37 million), Wellington ($36.1 million), Otago ($32 million), Canterbury ($29.9 million), Hawke's Bay ($22.4 million), Northland ($17.1 million), Southland ($14.2 million), Marlborough ($4.2 million) and Nelson ($200,000) Port Otago is expecting 86 visits between October 16 and May 3, 2014.
Last season, 85 ships called, with bad weather keeping four away.
