Kristin Dunne Tourism Bay of Plenty

Have you got plans next Friday evening?

Why not join us at Pilot Bay and celebrate the start of the 2018-19 cruise ship season in true Bay of Plenty style?

Bring a picnic or some fish and chips and give the Majestic Princess a warm send-off at 5:30pm following her first ever stop in Tauranga on her maiden voyage – as is global custom.

Local kapa haka groups from Tauranga Intermediate School and Ngāi Te Rangi will welcome and farewell the passengers, while we will have late night shopping until 6pm.

What better way to kick off the first weekend of daylight saving too?

It was wonderful to see so many of our community pack the shoreline and Mauao to welcome and farewell the Ovation of the Seas on her maiden voyage to Tauranga last season. But let's make it even bigger.

It's community events such as this which highlight our manaakitanga and welcoming spirit and enhance our reputation as a world-class destination.

This is so important given cruise ship passengers bring significant benefits to the Coastal Bay of Plenty, not least the $66m boost our economy received last season.

This season is no different, seeing a record-breaking 110 ships berth in the Coastal Bay of Plenty – up 35% on last season's 81 ships.

The 320,166 passengers and crew will pump an estimated $63 million into our region's economy, and generate 1,224 cruise-related jobs.

So save the date and let's ensure all our visitors leave with wonderful lasting memories of our region and begin planning for another visit in the future

See you there.