Small rise in number of cruise ship visits for 2018-19 season

CRUISE ship visits to the capital will increase only marginally next season, says TasPorts, amid concerns Hobart has already reached its cruise ship limit.

There are expected to be 63 cruise ship visits into Hobart next season. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

CRUISE ship visits to the capital will increase only marginally next season, says TasPorts, amid concerns Hobart has already reached its cruise ship limit.

The State Government-owned port operator is forecasting stabilisation of visitor numbers next season with 63 cruise ships booked to call Hobart — just four more than this year.

By the end of the current season on March 30, Hobart will have hosted 59 ships carrying more than 126,000 passengers and 51,000 crew — a 23 per cent jump on last season with 48 visits.

“TasPorts remains very optimistic about the benefits the cruise industry can bring to the growth of tourism in Tasmania,” a spokesman said.

“The 2016-17 Tasmanian cruise ship passenger survey ... found that the direct onshore passenger and crew expenditure of the 2016-17 season was estimated at a total of $25.14 million.

“This translated to passengers in Hobart spending an average of $172 while in port.”

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Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said cruise ship visits were valuable for local tourism operators, but many believed Hobart had almost reached its cruise ship limit.

“It’s pleasing to see numbers start to stabilise. I think the number is about right,” Mr Martin said.

He said efforts should now be directed at making other Tasmanian destinations such as Devonport, Beauty Point and East Coast locations — other than environmentally sensitive Wineglass Bay — more attractive to cruise ships.