Car hire operator blasts new fee arrangement for cruise terminal

A LUXURY hire car operator has criticised arrangements for tourism companies at Hobart's new cruise ship terminal.

cruise ship terminal

A LUXURY hire car operator has criticised arrangements for tourism companies at Hobart's new cruise ship terminal just days before the first liner arrives.

Paul Russell, of Hobart Business Class Cars, said that last year TasPorts charged operators $8 for access to parking spots near the terminal each time a ship visited, but prices had soared.

He said the charges and the bureaucratic process to get a permit had sharply increased the cost of doing business.

"The last two seasons TasPorts have charged us $8 ... now another company has taken over and they want $690," he said.

"They want us to have a table, banners in their company name, they wanted me to give them my [hire] prices. I don't understand.

"I've done it there for four years. I'm the only luxury hire car that was there. I've never had a complaint. What am I supposed to do now?"

Mr Russell did not apply for one of the permits.

A TasPorts spokesman said parking arrangements at the terminal were being handled by Destination Southern Tasmania.

"TasPorts has made available six places for companies that want to pick up passengers from in front of Macquarie Wharf [shed] No.1," he said.

"There's been no change in the pricing. There's been no change in the number of places. They're still $10. They've handed over management of that to Destination Southern Tasmania."

DST spokeswoman Karen Fraser said there was strong demand for a limited number of spots and a process had been developed.

"Operators can still sell their products via the Hobart Visitor Information Centre," she said.

"Taxi drivers can still pick up business and there's a taxi rank outside the Macquarie 2 terminal.

"For a parking space, there are seven permits available this year. There were selection criteria around the permits that were forwarded to all operators that had previously had a permit from TasPorts over the years.

"That was so we could ensure the best standards. All the operators who have been been awarded the permits addressed the selection criteria."

She said the charges for the permit was the same, but was being levied for the entire season and included a banner for the business and a table.

The first of this season's cruise ships, the Sea Princess, arrives in Hobart on Wednesday night and will be the first to use the new terminal.

Tourism Minister Scott Bacon says the annual influx of ship-borne visitors is a welcome boost for the industry.

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