Facilities at Port Chalmers will be upgraded to cater for a more than 25% lift in cruise ship passenger numbers next season, with 150,000 visitors expected.
Port Otago owner the Otago Regional Council yesterday heard that cruise ship visits for the year to June were increasing next season from 83 to 88.
Because larger vessels were visiting several times, total passenger numbers would be boosted by more than a quarter, to rise beyond the 150,000 mark.
Aregional councillor asked whether the "primitive" passenger amenities at Port Chalmers could be replaced with "more sophisticated facilities".
Port Otago commercial manager Peter Brown said a marquee would be set up for passengers while they waited for transport to the city. There would be a sit-down area with coffee available, along with WiFi access and Skype facilities.
"If there is good feedback, we could consider developing it further," he said.
He defended the Port Chalmers facilities, as being equal to those of any other operational commercial port hosting cruise ships, as opposed to dedicated cruise ship wharf facilities which might be found at ports such as Auckland.
Mr Brown said, at the end of next cruise season Port Otago would consider the facilities again, but noted the company had to justify capital expenditure on facilities which were used only on 65 days a year.
