The Western Bay of Plenty is getting a bigger cut of the economic benefits from the annual cruise ship season with more passengers opting to stay here.
Previously, ships have docked in Tauranga, but many passengers have headed onto waiting buses or vans to be transported to attractions outside the region.

Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Glenn Ormsby says cruise ship passengers are getting more local activities and tours to choose from. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

Figures from Tourism Bay of Plenty show more passengers are now taking advantage of the ‘local' attractions.
More than 120,000 passengers onboard 53 cruise ships visited the region during the 2010/2011 season.
About 83 ships are expected to visit the region next season, pumping about $30 million direct expenditure into the region.
This season the i-SITE was placed at Mount Maunganui wharf – where cruise ship passengers disembark.
It provides impartial information about activity options and attractions.
The i-SITE offered 19 Tauranga and Rotorua tours this season.
About 50 per cent of tours sold were in the Bay of Plenty region.
This is an increase from the previous season, when only 42 per cent booked tours were based in the region.
'There are a lot more Australian passengers who prefer local tours because they don't want to spend all day travelling and they really see the value for money with staying local,” says Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Glenn Ormsby.
Overall, 42 per cent more passengers booked tours through the i-SITE for both Tauranga and Rotorua.
'When you consider there are up to 2000 passengers on a ship, it's a significant increase and we'll be looking to increase these figures next season and hold the market share of tours sold though the i-SITE.”
Glenn says one of the big focuses for Tourism Bay of Plenty during the time leading up to the next season is 'to increase the local product offered”.
'We hope that by providing a memorable visitor experience, cruise passengers will be encouraged to return to the region and tell others of their positive experience in Tauranga.”
Glenn says the rise in cruise ships is really putting Tauranga on the map.
Tourism Bay of Plenty estimates about $17 million flowed into the region from the latest cruise ship season.
'Tauranga is a consistently popular destination for cruise ship passengers because of the unique attributes of the Bay's attractions, the relaxed pace of life and beauty of the area,” says Glenn.