Labor and caravan park owner want more Spirit of Tasmania crossings
A Tasmanian tourism operator has supported Labor’s calls for more Spirit of Tasmania crossings. Find out why.
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A leading Tasmanian tourism operator has backed Labor’s call to immediately lock in more sailings of the Spirits of Tasmania this summer so people can book to come to the state.
Former chair of Caravanning Tasmania, Rowan Carter, who has run the Huon Valley Caravan Park for 12 years, said there had been problems with people booking caravans to come on the Spirits for years with the TT-Line refusing to divulge information about bookings.
He wants the current ships to run twice a day and fears the new Spirits will only run every few days.
“We have the capacity there, they only need to run it more, and if they increase capacity and run these Spirits more often, tourism will be better,” Mr Carter said.
“They’re just running at a profit for no reason except to line the coffers of the government, which is a pittance compared to what they’re costing tourism.
“They’re destroying our reputation, because people can’t get on and off the island when they want to.
“If they have to wait two and three days, fair enough, but waiting three, four of six months they are destroying small business
“Some of the horror stories we’ve heard within the caravan park of people trying to get back on the boat or extend their stay for a few weeks, it’s horrific.”
About 40 per cent of his business in peak times is from interstate and he said “everybody talks about how great 2018 was” for the tourism industry.
“We had 75 caravans one weekend in 2018 but one long weekend we only had 24 vans and that is dismal.”
Labor leader Dean Winter said the government and TT-Line needed to add more sailings to increase demand.
“We can and should be doubling day sailings in Tasmania to add more capacity, this is a capacity problem.
“We need to get more people on the Spirits, more freight off the island by adding more day sailings.
“The certainty around booking at the moment is really difficult for business and we’ve heard from Rowan Carter about the difficulties that people have with a lack of certainty around booking.
“They can book to get here, but they’re not sure they can get off the island and that means they won’t come.
“I’d love to understand why the government is so reluctant to add more day sailings.”
Transport Minister Eric Abetz accused Mr Winter of “concentrating on the negative”.
“The important thing to remember is its business as usual,” he said.
“Our two Spirits are still plying Bass Strait each and every day, delivering the tourism market to Tasmania as it is has done.
“It is a matter of great regret that the port in Devonport was not built in time as it should have been. The good news is it is now happening.”
Mr Abetz says when the two new Spirits arrive it will be “transformational”.
“Make no mistake, when these two vessels arrive, it will be transformational, not only for our tourism sector, but also for our producers that need to get their fresh product to Victoria and the mainland for distribution each and every night.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Labor and caravan park owner want more Spirit of Tasmania crossings
Tassie’s weak population growth again worst in nation: CommSec
The latest CommSec State of the States report is a mixed bag for Tasmania. Check out the positives and negatives.
Council could look into creative housing solution
A Tasmanian council could look at the car parks it owns to make way for more housing, in a solution the mayor says is “win-win”. Here’s how it could work.