Port Kembla is open for business and ready to welcome more cruise ships immediately.
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That’s the message Cruise Wollongong operators have delivered to a NSW Government which on Sunday set in motion a plan to grow the state’s $1.6 billion cruise tourism industry.
Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey said the NSW Cruise Development Plan would address capacity constraints and boost regional visitation.
With Garden Island no longer seen as a viable alternative, the government has committed to developing a business case for a potential new cruise terminal on two sites in Botany Bay.
Cruise Wollongong chairman Leigh Colacino took delight that Port Kembla was also acknowledged as a key strategic port for the cruise industry.
The Wollongong councillor commended the government on the plan which “importantly” acknowledged the role regional ports, such as Port Kembla can play in continuing to grow NSW’s visitor economy.
“Our priority now is continuing to develop a plan for Port Kembla to operate as a turnaround port well into the future which will relieve some of the capacity constraints currently being experienced in Sydney Harbour in the short to medium term,” Cr Colacino said.
“Port Kembla enjoys some key strategic advantages facilitating turnarounds including opportunities to provide convenient long term parking for travelling domestic guests and also easier access for providores to stock ships.”
The world’s largest privately owned cruise line, MSC Magnifica will be the first ship to stage a turnaround in Port Kembla on March 17, 2020 bringing with her over 3500 international visitors.
Destination Wollongong general manager Mark Sleigh said while government and industry identify long term opportunities for future infrastructure in Sydney Harbour, “Port Kembla can continue to facilitate growth in a key sector of the visitor economy otherwise constrained”.
Mr Sleigh was also pleased to see the importance of local cruise ambassadors acknowledged in the NSW Cruise Development Plan.
“It is pleasing to see referenced the importance of the role that local ambassadors play in the overall cruise visitor experience, something that Wollongong has embraced and taken to a whole new level with the success of the IRT / DW Ambassador program,” he said.
“We have worked hard with our ambassadors and local industry to identify Wollongong as the friendliest port in Australia, something which we are looking forward to continuing this coming cruise season.”
Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall added the plan would help keep the cruise industry powering along and support cruise tourism in regional NSW.
“NSW’s cruise industry supports 12,800 jobs and injects $1.6 billion into our economy each year so it is vital we take the steps necessary to propel the industry’s future growth,” Mr Marshall said.
Visit www.industry.nsw.gov.au/cruise to view the plan.