Overseas cruise liners choose Picton

Press, 8 July 1976, Page 24

Overseas cruise liners choose Picton

Picton, a popular holiday resort, and the main centre of the Marlborough Sounds, is becoming a regular stop for international cruise liners. During the last holiday season, from November to April, six cruise liners, under the Royal Viking and Sitmar Line flags, called at Picton, and the town is preparing for an increase in their numbers in coming seasons. Cruise liners have been calling at Picton for many years, but it is only in the last two seasons that they

have been arriving in such numbers. Much of the increase is due to the efforts of the Port of Picton Entertainment Committee, working in conjunction with the Marlborough Harbour Board, and the Marlborough Public Relations Organisation. A promotion campaign is under way now to encourage more cruise liners to visit Picton. Passengers coming off the visiting ships in the last two seasons have usually been greeted by members of one of the three groups, who give

them a bag containing brochures on Marlborough, apples or pears if they're in season, or polished stones or shells. Possible tours and visits for the ships’ passengers have also been arranged — a job which can be done better by locals who know the area, than international tourist firms and travel agencies who don’t. Ships visiting Picton usually stay 12 hours before sailing again, and moves are under way to encourage them to stay longer. One advantage in this is that passengers are able to see more of the country from a small port like Picton, than one of the larger city ports. Another attraction which the committee feels could be incorporated into the" ships’ itineraries, are cruises into Pelorus Sound or Tennyson Inlet, perhaps dropping passengers off at the many beaches or bush reserves along the way. Picton is also widely acknowledged as having many natural advantages as a port; it is the deepest port in New Zealand, and: can easily handle ships the] size of the 21,000-ton! Royal Viking Star. Information on Picton,

and the whole Marlborough province, is being sent to travel agents, shipping lines and owners throughout the world, in the hope of attracting more ships to Picton. The promotion campaign is already showing signs of success, and there have been inquiries from shipping lines other than the two already sending ships. The passengers themselves have expressed a preference for visits to smaller ports than those of the main centres. All that remains now is to convince tour operators with their offices on the other side of the world. When that happens, Picton may well find itself one of the most popular ports of call on Pacific cruises.