Water Passenger Transport in New Zealand - Industry Market Research Report

Afloat: Ferried to security by fleet upgrades, waves of inbound tourism and easing labour shortages

The Water Passenger Transport has struggled with disruptions to demand caused by the pandemic. Water transport services rely heavily on high levels of international and domestic tourism. New Zealand's international border was shut from March 2020 to June 2022, causing a rapid decline in passenger numbers. Domestic tourism was also disrupted by intermittent lockdowns, both through a nationwide lockdown in 2020 and periodic city-wide lockdowns in 2021, especially in Auckland. Despite these repeated shutdowns, demand from domestic tourists and commuters has been minimally affected. Overall, revenue has declined by 1.8% to $307.7 million over the five years through 2022-23. As border restrictions have eased, water transport passenger numbers have also gradually recovered, contributing to a revenue upsurge of 12.3% in 2022-23. Industry players operate vessels that transport passengers by water. The industry excludes firms that transport passengers primarily for sightseeing. This report covers the scope, size, disposition and growth of the industry including the key sensitivities and success factors. Also included are five year industry forecasts, growth rates and an analysis of the industry key players and their market shares.