Billion-dollar industry buoyed by Far North

Port Douglas plays part in state’s cruise ship revival

Rowan Anderson

Journalist

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Coral Princess to make voyage to Port Douglas. Image: supplied

The Coral Princess will cruise into Port Douglas on June 30 in a sign of the cruise industry back into full swing.

This will be the first ship returning to town following the industry shutdown struck by the pandemic and is an example of the states $1 billion cruise industry’s Covid-19 economic recovery.

Fully booked with 1974 passengers, this voyage brings with it a vital boost for the city’s retail and tourism economy.

Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Port Douglas Daintree, Tara Bennet, said it would deliver dividends for the region.

“We eagerly await the return of cruise ships to the region. Prior to COVID 19 impacts on travel, Port Douglas attracted an average of 26 vessels annually bringing over 40,000 passengers plus crew to explore the region.

“The vessels Port Douglas attracts bring a diverse range of travel groups and spending patterns, meaning annually most businesses will have been positively impacted by the visits.

“With the return of interstate travel comes destination weddings, corporate groups and the slow growth in international travellers.

“This feels like the final piece of the puzzle in returning to pre-Covid travel patterns for the region.”

Far North here to help

Cruise Line International Association managing director Joel Katz said that the state had the potential to become a major cruising destination and Far North Queensland, Cairns and Port Douglas could serve as key in this plan to buoy the industry.

"Queensland is well placed to offer some amazing cruise itineraries," Mr Katz said.

"Those areas are crying out for visitors and cruise really has the potential to bring enormous amounts of visitors to those regions."

Government sees future rewards for industry investment

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk recently said that it was vital that the industry be revived due to its impact on our tourism industry and state economy.

The state has a new International Cruise Terminal ready to greet visitors to our great state and is projected to triple the size of the capital city’s industry over the next two decades.

“The $177 million Brisbane International Cruise Terminal was completed in 2020, during the pandemic,” the Premier said.

“Having the new international terminal ready to go puts Queensland in a good position to become Australia’s cruise ship capital.”

State infrastructure strengthened for future

Queensland has fourteen cruise ship ports, the most of any state, and with the new International Cruise Terminal now capable of docking the largest cruise vessels in the world.

Itineraries over the next six months includes Cairns, the Whitsundays, Willis Island, Port Douglas, Gladstone and Townsville.

President of Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia Marguerite Fitzgerald said Queensland would be at the forefront of the industry’s revival.

Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said before the pandemic, cruise ships in Queensland waters contributed $1 billion to the State’s economy.

“Cruise ships have traditionally worked with Queensland tourism operators in ports-of-call to develop onshore guided tour itineraries for passengers,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“That’s set to become another important sign of economic recovery in Queensland’s favourite visitor destinations.

“More focus on buying local means more cruise ship demand for Queensland-grown fruit, vegetables, meat and other supplies in places like Cairns, Gladstone and Townsville.

“Buying local Queensland produce is important step in rebuilding the cruise ship industry’s $1 billion contribution to regional Queensland economies.”

Under new eastern seaboard health protocols, cruise ship passengers must be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and return a negative Covid test before boarding.

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