In 2011 Oslo 173 cruise calls totaling 310,000 passengers. Next year, it appears that only 90 cruise ships with 160,000 passengers find their way into the Oslo Fjord. That means a decline in turnover of over 130 million annually, according to DN.
– We look with great concern at developments in the cruise industry. Until three years ago we were able to rejoice in a wonderful cruise growth. But growth has now turned to a dramatic failure. And we can not just sit idly by and watch. For then will the downturn continue. We have to sit down together with the actors, the municipality, the harbor and VisitOSLO to find a way to lift cruise focus on, says Paal Mork to the newspaper.
He is chairman of the cruise network in Oslo and to general manager of the audience department at the Norwegian Folk Museum at Bygdøy.
– We’re talking about a half, says Rino Ødegård, who until recently was chairman of the cruise network, the DN.
Partial development can be explained by the fact that Oslo is a bit remote, but Odegard believe other factors are more important.
– It naturally makes it extra challenging. High pilotage dues and strict emission requirements too. But central to this is Oslo’s reduced cruise commitment. In this industry it is important to be active at international fairs and visiting shipowners. And cruise terminal facilities that were promised many years ago have never come, he says to DN.
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