PORTS across Tasmania are preparing to welcome almost 150 cruise ship visits during the upcoming 2022-23 cruise season.
Plans for the cruise season began to unfold following the state premier’s announcement in June that Tasmania would reopen to cruise ship visits.
TasPorts has released a schedule for cruise activity at its ports, currently displaying 78 visits locked in for Hobart, 33 for Burnie and 23 for Port Arthur.
A further six visits are planned for Bell Bay, another six for Coles Bay, and two for Port of Devonport, according to the schedule.
TasPorts said the Hobart visit number includes turnaround calls by 63-metre LOA Coral Discoverer, which will call Hobart its home port for the Tasmanian cruise season.
TasPorts chief executive officer Anthony Donald said the company is a strong supporter of cruise ship visits to Tasmania.
“TasPorts’ primary role is to facilitate trade for the benefit of the state and as the port operator, we’re looking forward to welcoming cruise vessels back to Tasmania waters following government approval,” he said.
Mr Donald said the upcoming visits will benefit the Tasmanian visitor economy, particularly outside of the state’s major cities.
“Independent economic research confirms that the economic contribution of a single medium sized cruise ship visit to the state is more than $650,000 per visit,” he said.
“If you extrapolate that out over the cruise ship season, you very quickly get a sense of their overall value to the state.”
Mr Donald said cruise ship companies are still displaying a strong interest in visiting the state’s traditional cruise ship ports.
“TasPorts has for some time been actively engaging with cruise lines, local government, local tourism operators and Commonwealth and Tasmanian authorities to prepare for a safe and effective return of cruise ships to Tasmania,” he said.
“This includes initiatives such as limiting the number of cruise ships in the Port of Hobart to no more than two at any one time and maximising disbursement of visitors and their associated spending across the state.
Mr Donald thanked TasPorts’ cruise partners, industry associations and cruise lines for their professionalism and collaboration in the re-establishment of visits.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the industry and Tourism Tasmania to ensure an ongoing effective and sustainable program of visits for the benefit of the state,” he said.
The arrival of Coral Princess will mark the first visit of the season. The vessel is scheduled to arrive in Burnie on 5 November.
