Ningaloo Coast is all set to enjoy a bumper year in terms of cruise visits but then turbulent waters in the WA cruise chip sector are threatening to check the growth of the industry along the western coast.
Nine cruise ships would be calling into Exmouth Gulf this year and this is more than double the four-ship average of the last three years.
Kristy Bryan-Smith who is the Exmouth Visitor Centre manager said that unlike the last few years where a meager 50% of the cruise ships were capable of disembarking due to adverse climatic conditions, all the six cruise ships were compelled to disembark to date this year.
Byan-Smith went on to add that interest in Exmouth as a popular cruise tourism locale has grown thanks to its unique location and also the reputation of Ningaloo as an important WA holiday destination.
The Pacific Eden cruise belonging to Carnival Cruise has more than 1000 passengers disembarking and an average spending that amounted to about $103.21 last year. This is equal to more than $100,000 of an injection to the local economy of this region.
The passenger survey results for this cruise vessel has actually indicated quite a high return rate amounting to nearly 80%.
Absence of sufficient disembarking facilities in Exmouth was one of the major reasons for the shortcomings at the WA destinations. Paul Papalia who is the tourism minister said that the previous government had ignored requests from Carnival Australia to improve the regional ports.
