TT-Line reverses passenger fall with an 8 per cent boost in travellers

PASSENGER numbers on Tasmania’s two Bass Strait ferries are rebounding after a worrying two years on the water.

26/03/2003 LIBRARY: Spirit of Tasmania ferry boat ship. Pic. Russell Millard

PASSENGER numbers on Tasmania’s two Bass Strait ferries are rebounding after a worrying two years on the water.

TT-Line recorded an 8 per cent increase in passenger number this financial year compared to the year before when bookings fell to their lowest level since the twin vessels were introduced in 2002.

As of today, 357,374 passenger have come across the Strait on board Spirit of Tasmania I or II this financial year – up from 330,698 in 2012-13 and in line with the numbers recorded in 2011-12.

The healthier passenger data comes as TT-line works to further boost numbers in line with a State Government pre-election commitment to get the ferry operator to concentrate more on tourists than freight.

Chief executive Charles Griplas said forward bookings for the pending new financial year were up by 11 per cent on the same time last year.

Mr Griplas, who is about to step down from the top role, credited several cut-price campaigns with helping to get more people on board.