Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast Gareth Ward is among many eager to give the first cruise ship passengers to arrive in October a big Wollongong welcome.
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Mr Ward is throwing his support behind the IRT/Destination Wollongong Ambassador program to celebrate the maiden voyage of Radiance of the Seas into Port Kembla on October 30, 2016. He said with just eight weeks to go that Sunday was going to be an exciting day for the Illawarra and was a chance for the city to show what it can do.
“The cruise industry in Australia is growing by more than 10 percent each year, and has for more than 10 years. There is a tremendous opportunity for the Illawarra to benefit from this growth, and ensuring that the maiden voyage is a major success is a critical next step in achieving this growth. One of the things I am immensely proud of is the passion and the pride that our community has in our region, and I am delighted that the Ambassador program has been established to demonstrate that passion to the world. I am very much looking forward to being part of the program, welcoming the first of what we hope will be many more cruise ship visitors to the city. If you haven’t already, I urge you to sign up to be an ambassador and show the world how proud we are of our region,” he said.
Destination Wollongong general manager Mark Sleigh said early engagement with the program was strong. He said Wollongong really seemed to be embracing the idea and that filled him with even more pride about the wonderful seaside city as excitement builds by the day.
“We already have over 300 ambassadors. We’re hoping for 500. Radiance of the Seas will be the first cruise ship to visit our region but it won’t be the last. We intend to make sure passengers have the time of their lives We want to inspire them to come back and to tell their families and friends”.
When Radiance of the Seas docks in Port Kembla Harbour as part of a seven-night East Coast and Tasmania tour it will be the realisation of a dream for Cr Leigh Colacino who knocked on Royal Caribbean’s door with his idea about bringing cruise ships to Wollongong four years ago. Expressions of interest for the ambassador program close on September 2 at cruise@wollongong.nsw.gov.au or registering at the visitors centre. The first briefing is on September 30.