MORE than two dozen cruise executives have gathered in Perth to discuss the cruise industry in Western Australia that last year injected $333 million into the state’s economy.
The 25 cruise industry executives from 14 cruise lines includes Holland America, Seabourn, Princess and P&O, represented under the parent brand Carnival, as well as MSC, Royal Caribbean, Coral Expeditions and Ponant cruise lines, for the WA Cruise Exchange held at Crown Towers Perth.
The state’s cruise tourism sector supports more than 1000 jobs and the State Government has allocated an additional $1 million over four years to grow the cruise sector further.
The WA Government has also allocated $35.5 million to improve Victoria Quay, including essential deck repairs and major fender upgrades at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal.
The upgrades will allow the port city’s terminal to better service the growing cruise industry and cater for larger visiting ships and their thousands of passengers.
Ports Minister David Michael said the wharf upgrades highlighted the government’s commitment to attracting more cruise ships to WA.
This is the eighth time the annual Cruise Exchange has been held, bringing together WA’s cruise industry including cruise line executives and shore-excursion ground handlers with representatives from WA ports and the tourism industry for business meetings, information sharing and networking opportunities.
A state government media release said visitor numbers through the Fremantle Port attracted nearly 30 cruise visits bringing more than 36,000 passengers and 17,000 crew to the port city.
Broome Port also attracted 74 vessels carrying more than 30,000 cruise passengers and crew in 2023-24.
They included Seabourn’s Pursuit which undertook its maiden expedition voyage in the Kimberley region in June with the Wunambal Gaambera Traditional Owners named as Godparents of the new vessel, as part of Seabourn’s commitment to Aboriginal economic development.
Tourism Minister, Rita Saffioti, said the meeting was an ideal way to share the experiences local tourism operators can offer their guests.
“Each year the WA Cruise Exchange brings together the ports, tourism and global cruise sector to discuss upcoming itineraries and showcase how Western Australia and its spectacular coastlines would be a dream inclusion for their guests,” Minister Saffioti said.
“Our government has been really proud to support our local cruise sector with $333 million injected in the economy last year and more than 1,000 jobs supported, and events like the WA Cruise Exchange are so valuable in helping to facilitate more ships to our shores and ports.”
