The production of a 10-year Cruise Development Plan, announced last week, was one of three ways recommended almost two years ago to the NSW State Government to improve the cruise industry (CW 12 Aug 2012).
The 2012 report by the Visitor Economy Taskforce also identified cruising’s two other priority issues as the urgent need to expand cruise berthing capacity within Sydney ports (including Garden Island) and to address economic loss from provedoring constraints at the Overseas Passenger Terminal (OPT).
The move to commence work on the plan is expected to be widely welcomed by the industry, many of whom expressed their frustrations at this month’s release of the 2013 Cruise Industry Report.
Carnival Australia ceo Ann Sherry reiterated her commitment to lobbying for improved infrastructure, saying she had “not given up” on Garden Island.
MEANWHILE, the state’s ports are set to introduce the controversial new site occupation charge next week.
From 01 Jul, NSW’s “head tax” will increase to $25 per passenger, adding between $50,000-$75,000 to the cost of docking overnight in Sydney, which already costs as much as $100,000 at the OPT.