A $635 million acquisition of commuter bus business Transit Systems made just before the pandemic has proved a saviour for SeaLink Travel Group after travel bans and lockdowns decimated tourism operations such as Captain Cook Cruises on Sydney Harbour.

Chief executive Clint Feuerherdt said that even before the Sydney lockdowns began in early July, Captain Cook Cruises had suffered a 70 per cent hit to revenues, with interstate tourists less inclined to visit the Sydney CBD even when they were able.