Sydney business leaders urge end to cruise ship ban amid $6b economy hole

International borders will be lifted in a fortnight but travellers by sea are still waiting on a decision about when they can set sail.

Business leaders are urging the federal government to lift the ban on international cruises that ferry millions of tourists into Sydney Harbour to turbocharge the dying CBD.

With international borders to be lifted in a fortnight, those wanting to travel by sea are still waiting to learn when they can set sail with a government decision expected on February 17.

“The reality is the CBD relies on the business, having workers in town, and international and domestic visitors – the other key factor, international cruises, – they bring thousands of people into town a day,” said Australian Hotels Association’s director liquor and policing, John Green.

Circular Quay overseas passenger terminal is deadly quiet these days.

The Overseas Passenger Terminal at The Rocks. Picture: Richard Dobson

“Those visitors that disembark in The Rocks generate tourism and pay for accommodation; we need them back in Sydney sooner rather than later, – they’re crucial to revitalising the CBD.

“Unless we bring back office work and cruise ships the city will continue to die,” he said.

International cruise ships were banned from entering Australia in March 2020, following a serious outbreak on the Ruby Princess leading to more than 600 infections and 28 deaths.

The cruise market was big business before the Covid-19 pandemic, bringing 1.83 million cruise passengers and 130,000 crew a year into Sydney.

Their combined direct spending in Sydney totalled more than $1.55 billion. The total economic contribution Sydney has lost since the two-year ban is estimated at $6 billion, according to Cruise Lines International Association.

Comedian Mark Trevorrow is now touring his show in Melbourne after losing two thirds of his income when cruise ships were banned from setting sail in Sydney in March 2020. Picture: Jason Edwards

NSW AHA Director of Liquor and Policing John Green.

It boosted the country’s coffers by $5.2 billion and generated more than 18,000 jobs in 2018-19.

More than 7 million people have already sailed in more than 80 countries where cruising has resumed.

The country’s accommodation sector is the biggest beneficiary receiving $450 million or their combined annual spend, according to Cruise Lines International Association’s impact report 2018-19 (CLIA).

Radiance of the Seas in Sydney in 2017. Picture: Brendan Esposito)

The food and beverage sector pocketed almost $274 million, or 20.3 per cent of passenger spend, and transport ($196 million).

The CLIA has called for Federal and State governments to finalise plans for a phased and controlled return of domestic cruising in Australia, beginning with local cruises for locals. Yes

“Sydney is Australia’s biggest cruising gateway, welcoming thousands of cruise passengers a day, without cruising, Sydney is missing out on more than $1.5 billion worth of annual spending from passengers and crew, and our city streets are missing thousands of visitors who would be exploring our shops and restaurants, or extending their stay in city hotels,” said Joel Katz, Managing Director Australasia, Cruise Lines International Association.

Ovation of the Seas in Sydney Harbour. Picture John Grainger

The Ruby Princess docks at Sydney’s Overseas Passenger Terminal in 2020 at a time the world imposed travel bans and extra health screening measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams

“Sydney used to be among the world’s great cruise destinations, like Barcelona, Vancouver and San Francisco. As long as the cruise ban continues, we can’t revive that activity in central Sydney and local businesses lose millions.”

Tourism & Transport Forum CEO Margy Osmond said cruise ships were crucial to revitalising CBD’s economy.

“It might be that we start off with domestic cruises and operate in an Australian bubble, but it’s important to get the ball rolling, it will take months for a ship to return to Sydney, there are already ships riding the ocean wave around the US, UK and Europe,” she said.

“It’s not a logical to open international travel and leave international cruises, isolated, said David Jones, spokesman for Carnival Australia, the largest cruise organisation in Australia.

“It’s very clear cruising makes a huge contribution to the NSW economy and brings a sense of vibrancy to Circular Quay and The Rocks district with travellers visiting restaurants, cafes, bars, staying hotels and paying for taxis.”

Anthony Laffan was a cruise ship hypnotist, until the industry nosedived in March 2020. Photo Steve Pohlner

Cruise magician and hypnotist Anthony Laffan lost the bulk of his income when the government pressed pause on cruise ships and now runs a pizzeria Cara Mia on Broadbeach in Queensland.

“I’m praying for the day cruise ships operate again, when they stopped, I had to take my children out of private school, sell my car, remortgage my house and move from Sydney to Queensland,” he said.

“It brought in six months of work a year for me and my family. I can’t tell you how devastating it was when it all dried up overnight.”

Cruise ship Diamond Princess is no longer part of the waterscape at the Overseas Passenger Terminal. Picture: Bill Hearne

Cruise ship entertainer Mark Trevorrow took his comedy character Bob Downe on P&O cruise Ships from Sydney for four years until the pandemic arrived when he lost two-thirds of his income. He is currently rousing with his show Viva Las Vegas in Melbourne.

“I lost a lot of income and now tour on land and take on corporate work as my character, but cruise ship jobs are very lucrative, a lot of us lost a lot of jobs and friends on the ships when the ban was introduced,” he said.

“When they’re up and running, I’ll be among the first back on the ships.”

Fortune of War hotel in The Rocks was forced to close its 30 room Russell Hotel, after the cruise ship ban was introduced.

“We lost 50 per cent of the business overnight because of the ban on cruise liners and we are now trading at 50 per cent we can’t give up,” said owner Steven Speed.

“But we are pleading with the government to reopen the waterways. The domestic cruise business operates Friday, Saturday and Sunday but international cruises are a seven day a week business – we need it to come back urgently if we are to survive.”