Free car travel on Spirit of Tasmania will give the state an economic boost, tourism chief says

The state’s leading tourism body has proposed Federal Government intervention to get tourists to Tasmania’s shores and help cure the post-pandemic economic blues.

A TASMANIAN tourism body has proposed an unusual plan to get domestic tourists to Tassie’s shores.

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Luke Martin has suggested free vehicle travel on the Spirit of Tasmania as a cure to Tasmania’s post-pandemic and tourism woes.

Mr Martin has urged the Federal Government to consider extending the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme (BSPVES) to make car trips on the ferry free.

He said the scheme already discounted the fare, but by increasing this, it would effectively make vehicle transport free for mainland tourists to cross Bass Strait, ultimately kickstarting the state’s tourism industry.

Once border restrictions were lifted, Tasmania needed pragmatic and fast strategies to stimulate visitor demand, and maximising the use of the Spirit of Tasmania ships was the obvious opportunity, Mr Martin said.

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“The BSPVES was introduced by John Howard in 1996 with the intent to ensure the cost of taking your vehicle across Bass Strait was the equivalent to driving the same distance on the national highway network on the mainland.

“The scheme underpins the success of the Spirit of Tasmania service, by effectively reducing the cost of passage for vehicles across Bass Strait.

“Tourists to Tasmania who bring their car generally stay longer, spend more and disperse further across regional Tasmania – they are the visitors we most need to get back. Fast.”

TICT chief executive Luke Martin has suggested free vehicle travel on the Spirit of Tasmania as the pick-me-up for the state’s tourism industry. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Mr Martin explained there is currently a $100 gap between the value of the scheme and the actual cost of taking a vehicle on the Spirit, which is passed on to travellers through their ticket price.

“Our proposal is that the scheme be temporarily increased to cover the full cost of taking your vehicle across Bass Strait – to make it free to take your vehicle across Bass Strait,” he said.

“Passengers would still pay for their ‘above deck’ costs, such as their cabin, or seat, just as they do now, but the vehicle component of their passage would be covered.

“Clearly, just the reaction to the idea overnight on social media shows how effectively such a proposal would be in stimulating interest in travelling on Bass Strait.

“In what will be a very price sensitive market, every saving will be well received by the markets – and the BSPVES is a proven winner for Tasmania.”

Mr Martin said the economics of free travel spoke for themselves.

“It’s also good economics – visitors who come to Tasmania spends on average $2400 in our local economy, in our most regional parts of the state,” he said.

“In the scheme of the economic stimulus measures likely to be pursued over coming months and years, we think this is a no-brainer, and we’re pleased to see the positive response from both state and federal governments.”