| ACA Update 28 Apr 21

FROM Jill Abel, CEO, Australian Cruise Association – The promise of Eden: When the new Eden Welcome Centre opens this week, it carries the spirit of promise on its shoulders.
The eye-catching new structure,
which also will be home to the
Visitor Information Centre, is
the first new cruise construction
project to have been completed in
the last 12 months.
As such there will be much room
for celebration at the opening
event with ACA, CLIA, tourism
associations and several cruise line
representatives set to attend.
Infrastructure investment is
critical for the growth of regional
communities, especially those
along important cruise routes.
This injection of funds into
local economies helps to sustain
many communities which dot the
Australian coastline.
Based on the NSW Sapphire
Coast, Eden is an important stop
for cruise ships on the way from
Sydney to Melbourne.
In the 2019/2020 cruise season,
22 ships docked in Eden bringing
with them passengers and crews
who spent money at food and
beverage outlets, took tours and
purchased souvenirs.
The Centre is the ideal
complement to the $44m cruise
wharf, which opened in Aug
2019, with industry hailing the
structure as “the perfect location
to welcome our cruise passengers
when they return.”
Congratulations to the Port
Authority of NSW and all who
supported this project in the local
community.
This bellwether will no doubt
help to raise the spirits of many in
our industry.