27 August 2008

83,000 Cruise Ship Visitors to Tassie

Passengers and crew members who visited Tasmania as part of this yearââ¬â¢s cruise ship season have poured millions of tourism dollars into the economy, a recent survey reveals.

The Acting Minister for Tourism, Michelle Oââ¬â¢Byrne, has announced that in the 07-08 season, Tasmania welcomed 83,000 cruise ship visitors who had contributed close to $9 million to the Tasmanian economy.

ââ¬ÅâœTourism Tasmaniaââ¬â¢s three year business strategy, New Directions for Our Island, identified the need to meet the changing needs of leisure travellers by being flexible, innovative and responsive, and these cruise ship figures clearly show we are heading in the right direction,ââ¬~ Ms Oââ¬â¢Byrne said.

"The USA was the source of our greatest number of cruise ship visitors, providing 42% of passengers who experienced fine Tasmanian food, entertainment, and tours.

"The UK and Canada followed closely behind, while from the Australian market, NSW provided the greatest number with 7500 visitors, made up of both passengers and shipsââ¬â¢ crews.

"Visitors enjoyed a broad range of experiences including visits to historic sites, wildlife viewing, and shopping for local arts and crafts, with passengers spending an average of $125 each during their stay.

"More than $300,000 was spent by passengers and crew on organised tours alone; reminding providers of the importance of delivering a uniquely Tasmanian experience.

ââ¬ÅâœMore than half of these tours were booked by participants through cruise operators before their journey began."

Ms O'Byrne said this reinforced the importance of our ongoing efforts to make sure tourism operators were fully up-to-date with the cruise industry and how they could maximise their involvement.

ââ¬ÅâœTo help with this, workshops are being held in Hobart today and in Burnie tomorrow, to help operators understand and meet the demands of this growing market.

ââ¬ÅâœCruise ship visitor numbers have grown considerably over the past decade, with our tourism industry responding positively to their requirements, and developing new products to meet untapped needs.

ââ¬ÅâœThis was a key goal of our business strategy, and we will continue to set ambitious but achievable goals to ensure this growth continues,ââ¬~ Ms O'Byrne said.

A Report By The Mole

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