Ships cruise to a record

MORE than 100,000 cruise ship passengers and crew arrived on the island’s shores this summer.

The Crystal Symphony, docked, and Voyager of the Seas were two cruise ships that made up

A RECORD-BREAKING cruise ship season has put a collective smile on the face of Tasmania’s tourism industry, with more than 100,000 passengers and crew arriving on the island’s shores this summer to inject millions of dollars into the economy.

A Tasmanian Ports Corporation spokesman said 63 ships had arrived in Tasmania during the 2013-14 season, including 36 separate visits for Hobart, which was worth an estimated $10 million to the state.

A small tinny hurries to move out of the way of the Diamond Princess as it heads into port.

Next summer the picture becomes even rosier for tourism operators, with 70 ship visits booked across the state, including 42 to Hobart, 15 into Burnie, and nine to Port Arthur.

Destination southern Tasmania chief executive Ben Targett said the growth of the industry offered great opportunities for local businesses, as long as operators met the needs and expectations of the luxury vessels’ well-heeled clientele.

“Some cruise ship companies are sending more of their passengers out on pre-booked tours than ever before, whereas others might be a little more focused on what they offer on the ship itself,” Mr Targett said.

“We will work with these companies to ensure they better understand the range of experiences available onshore in Tasmania and help them find suitable products to bundle up and market.”

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said there was still huge potential for Tasmania to increase the number of cruise ship visitors.

Mr Martin said domestic cruise ships were one of the few sectors of the tourism market that were growing, with increasing numbers of Aus­t­ralians wanting to cruise around their home country.

The Sun Princess docked at Macquarie Wharf.

“We have an enormous natural advantage — cruise ship tourists love coming here because we have a port right in our city centre,” he said.

Anne McVilly, director of tourism at Port Arthur Historic Site, said eight ships had arrived in Carnarvon Bay this summer.

She said passengers were quickly discovering that the best way to arrive at Port Arthur was by water, with a spectacular entry from the ocean.

Heather Henri, who runs Let’s Show You Tasmania Tours, said cruise ship visitors were increasingly seeking more adventurous trips.

She said aside from greater cruise ship numbers and awareness of Port Arthur, improvements in packaging had played a part.

The key was packaging products to make a comprehensive day of activities.

“What they like the most is getting out and being in nature,” she said.

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The Pacific Princess was another visitor to Hobart.