Australia’s leading cruise company, Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises and represents most of the local and international ships operating in Australian waters, today welcomed the call for expressions of interest to develop a multi-purpose Gold Coast cruise facility.
Carnival Australia CEO Ann Sherry has previously committed to ship visits to the Gold Coast if plans for a cruise terminal were confirmed in time for the development of itineraries for the 2015 cruise schedule.
Ms Sherry said the Queensland Government’s call for expressions of interest for the development of a multi-purpose cruise facility was a step in the right direction to enable the Gold Coast to share in the economic benefits of the growth of cruising.
“Cruising’s growth in Queensland has played a significant part in our industry becoming the standout success of Australian tourism in recent years delivering widespread economic opportunities,” Ms Sherry said.
“Cruise ship visits and the Gold Coast, as a major tourist destination for local and international travellers, represent a natural combination that could give local tourism activity a much needed boost.”
A Deloitte Access Economics study commissioned by Carnival Australia showed that cruising made a valued added contribution of $830 million to the national economy in 2010-2011 with seven consecutive years of double digit growth in cruise passenger numbers.
This included a value added contribution of $166 million to the Queensland economy in 2010-2011 with the contribution forecast to more than double to $341 million by 2019-2020 (by which time a million Australians will be taking cruise holidays).
Ms Sherry said Carnival Australia looked forward to working with the Queensland Government and Gold Coast City Council in the development of a cruise ship terminal on the Gold Coast.
“We have always said that if the facilities are there the cruise ships will come and we clearly welcome this initiative to make the Gold Coast part of cruising’s overall economic success,” she said.
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