Changes to Fantasea Cruises
Leading Australian marine transport group, Riverside Marine, has acquired Whitsundays-based Fantasea Cruises, the country’s third largest passenger ferry operation.
Hume Campbell, Managing Director of Riverside Marine, a Brisbane-based, family-owned group of companies founded in 1926, announced that “We have been looking to expand our business for some time now and strongly believe the acquisition of the highly-regarded and profitable Fantasea Cruises will complement our business and will develop an even stronger position in the marine transport industry and extend our operations in tourism.”
Mr Campbell also emphasised that it will be “business as usual” as far as staff is concerned with Fantasea Cruises’ founder, David Hutchen, remaining at the helm as Managing Director.
Fantasea Cruises crowned a 23-year presence in the Whitsundays by taking the coveted Major Tour and Transport Operator award at the Australian Tourism Awards two years in a row, as well as a record three awards at the recent Queensland Tourism Awards.
Established in the early 1980s with a sailing yacht ferrying passengers around the Whitsunday islands, Fantasea Cruises’ nine vessels now carry approximately one million passengers annually. There are numerous daily ferry services between the Whitsunday Coast mainland and the resort islands including Hamilton Island, Daydream Island, Lindeman Island and Long Island. Additionally there are daily cruises to its floating platform, Reefworld, on the Great Barrier Reef , and daily trips to world famous Whitehaven Beach.
Mr Hutchen has been a passionate protector of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in which Fantasea operates. “We owe it to future generations to preserve and enhance this incredible natural environment.”
Graham Muldoon
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps