On Land teer greeters who meet every ship wearing their bright blue floral shirts and a warm Queensland smile. QUEENSLAND, THE SECOND-LARGEST AUSTRALIAN CRUISE MARKET In terms of activity and industry expenditures, Queensland is actually the secondlargest Australian cruise market. In 201516, Queensland welcomed 329 cruise ship visits around the state. Queensland has seen the number of ship calls increase by double digits each year for the past ten years, and growth in 2015-16 was recorded at 20 percent. And this trend looks like it will continue. The expected 2019-20 completion of the new Brisbane facility adds to the optimism for future growth.
nomic boon for the city. Ovation of the Seas, the biggest ship to visit Queensland waters, called to the River City in February 2017. Not only does Brisbane offer cruise passengers the chance to cuddle a koala, but it’s also the gateway to extremely famous beaches. To the south are the Gold Coast beaches, while the pristine Sunshine Coast beaches are to the north. Whether it’s a day at a theme park or a wandering along the boardwalk at Noosa’s Hasting Street, there is something for everyone to enjoy. CAIRNS: ANOTHER EMERGING HOMEPORT In the far north, Cairns is emerging as an attractive homeport, offering easy access to the exotic Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. It’s also a ‘must-do’ destination for transit calls because of its proximity to the World Heritage Listed Daintree
Rainforest, as well as the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Overnight calls to Trinity Wharf, in the heart of downtown Cairns, are becoming more popular. Passengers have the chance to visit both these iconic experiences and enjoy the ambience as the tropical city comes alive at night. The Cairns region, including the moorings at Yorkeys Knob and the resort town of Port Douglas, welcomed 79 calls in the year 2015-16, with nearly 100,000 passengers experiencing the relaxed tropical lifestyle enjoyed by locals. Sitting in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef are the 74 Islands of the Whitsundays. Boasting one of the world’s best beaches, Whitehaven Beach, the region’s diverse shore tours have made it a favorite for cruise passengers. The Whitsundays offer moorings at Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island. It’s also famous for the volun-
TOURISM AND EVENTS QUEENSLAND: WORKING WITH PORTS, DESTINATIONS AND MORE Tourism and Events Queensland, the State Tourism Organisation, supports each destination to be ‘cruise ready,’ with the aim of maximizing the economic impact of this rapidly growing market. This not only means working with ports and destinations to meet the infrastructure and operational needs of the cruise lines, but also working with regional organizations to ensure the shore excursion products and experiences are meeting the consumer needs. Tourism and Events Queensland also provides learning opportunities for tourism operators and communities to ensure the best cruise experience for our guests. Some of the reasons for Queensland’s success include its reputation as a friendly and welcoming place for cruise lines to operate and for passengers to visit. The volunteer network, who provide a warm local welcome at each destination, is an integral part of the holistic approach to ensure Queensland is front of mind for both cruise lines and consumers. Tourism and Events Queensland is an active member of CLIA and participates in events and opportunities to ensure the message of being ‘cruise-friendly’ is loud and clear. Partnerships are very important to the ongoing growth of cruise for Queensland. Tourism and Events Queensland participates in Seatrade Global each year, so cruise line partners have the latest information and strong working relationships are formed. Queensland offers something for everyone, and cruising the Queensland coast is definitely one of those ‘bucket-list’ experiences. A warm Queensland welcome awaits! THIRD QUARTER 2017 | TRAVEL & CRUISE 67