| ACA Update – 31 March 16 : Aussie cruise uptick

OUR recent visit to the USA was
a huge success for the Australian
Cruise Association.
Seatrade Cruise Global in Fort
Lauderdale afforded us some
exciting opportunities to showcase
Australia as a destination full of
varied experiences across a broad
landscape.
The sales mission that followed
allowed the team to drill down
into the special areas of interest by
state.
Based on feedback from the
cruise lines, there is no doubt we
will see continued growth across all
our ports.
A good example of how this is
working is in SA which has seen
significant increases over the last
few years, according to Leah Clarke
at the SATC.
Kangaroo Island which had three
cruise ship visits in the 12/13 season
will have 19 ships call in to this “wild
and welcoming” destination in the
16/17 season with a total capacity of
nearly 38,000 passengers and crew
coming to visit.
“This is pinned to the diversity of
experiences on offer,” said Clarke.
“With an abundance of nature and
wildlife and the outstanding local
produce of the Island we are seeing
more visitors enjoying their visit to
this remote landscape.”
In Adelaide, P&Os homeporting of
the Pacific Eden followed by Pacific
Aria next year has been a boon for
the city.
Next season, South Australia is
looking forward to 51 scheduled
visits – up from 37 this year –
including the QM2 to Kangaroo
Island and the behemoth Ovation of
the Seas into Adelaide.
Another great success story for
the Australian cruise industry.

CONTRIBUTOR: Jill Abel, CEO, Australian Cruise Association