Gold Coast cruise ship industry: how it could work for tourism without the ships and The Spit
An international cruise ship expert has given his verdict on plans for a Gold Coast terminal – identifying one fatal flaw he thinks sinks the project.
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AN international cruise ship expert has questioned whether the proposed Gold Coast facility could stay economically afloat given it had a rival in Brisbane within such a short distance.
Canadian Professor Ross Klein, who has previously met with council officers, delivered the warning in an address to about 60 residents attending a Save Our Spit meeting.
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The council in its latest budget has allocated $1.25 million to prepare further detailed studies including a business case as it seeks approvals from State Government departments.
But Professor Klein, at the Ferry Road Tavern function, told guests: “Brisbane has two cruise ship terminals, one owned by Carnival. Nowhere in the world does a ship visit two ports of call separated by 80km.”
The Memorial University of Newfoundland academic urged the Coast in planning for either a transit or home oceanside jetty off The Spit to consider the experience of other more natural ports in Australia.
“Learn from others — Newcastle has a deep water port and yet they have ruled out home porting cruise ships. Why would a cruise ship stop at Gold Coast, under what conditions, and with what prospects for income,” Professor Klein said.
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An expert witness in legal cases involving cruise ship companies, Professor Klein again raised concerns about drunken passengers falling overboard, sexual assaults along with environmental issues with cruise ships.
He told the Bulletin the industry overseas had a “high level of excitement” about the new Brisbane port.
One of the biggest challenges for the Coast if it succeeded with building a terminal was providing enough passenger capacity at its airport, he said.
Professor Klein argues there will be “insufficient airlift” with one ship requiring 20 planes to later carry tourists.
“The thing that makes Sydney or Brisbane attractive is what makes Gold Coast unattractive. They have enough airplane seats coming in,” he said.
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“There is no point building a cruise ship terminal if you can’t get enough people to it.”
Professor Klein believed the Coast should invest in tourism packages linked to the Brisbane port.
“If I was thinking about building cruise tourism, I would build pre and post cruise tourist packages,” he said.
“There is no investment. You end up getting a toe into the industry.”
Professor Klein said a ten-day cruise stopping at Brisbane could include a three night holiday package on the Coast.
“It’s pure income, there are no infrastructure costs. Maybe some advertising costs. You talking $500,000 instead of $500 million,” he said.
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