Cruise ship arrivals support Cairns local tourism operators

The Pacific Explorer’s arrival in Cairns over this weekend marks the first international cruise ship to dock at the Port of Cairns in more than two years since the start of the COVID pandemic.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chief Executive Mark Olsen said the return of the cruise industry was eagerly awaited by Cairns operators offering day tours to explore the Great Barrier Reef and the world’s oldest rainforest.

“Cruising is making a strong comeback in 2022 with 131 cruise ships scheduled to call at Tropical North Queensland ports including Port Douglas, Cooktown and Thursday Island over the next six months.”

Assistant Tourism Minister Michael Healy said the Pacific Explorer was an important arrival and advised “The Pacific Explorer’s two-day visit is another very welcome green shoot of recovery for the visitor economy in the Far North.

“Cruise ship arrivals support local tourism and logistics jobs and before Covid-19 contributed a whopping $100 million to the Cairns visitor economy.

“With more ports and anchorages, great winter weather and more world-class onshore visitor experiences than any other State, Queensland is staking its place as Australia’s cruise ship capital.

“This weekend’s Pacific Explorer arrival will be the first international cruise ship to dock at the Port of Cairns in more than two years since the start of the pandemic.

“We know from experiences overseas since the pandemic, cruise ships are more focused on buying locally in ports of call and adding more local flavours to onboard menus.

“For regions like the Far North that means more opportunity to supply locally grown fresh tropical fruit, vegetables, and meat, in addition to fuel and other cruise ship provisions.

“I’m told bookings at the Port of Cairns are running hot with more than 70 cruise ships signalling their intention to follow the Pacific Explorer into port before New Year.

“It puts the Far North’s cruise ship market on track to recover to where it was before the pandemic and delivering $1 billion every year to the Queensland economy.”

QLD Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said Cairns was well-prepared for the return of international cruise liners noting “The Cairns Shipping Development Project has expanded the shipping channel to make port access easier for large vessels like cruise ships.

“It puts Cairns in the pilots’ seat to grow cruise ship tourism and help fast-track the region’s economic recovery from Covid-19.

“Potentially, up to 140,000 passengers could be disembarking from the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal in coming months for onshore tours and world-class visitor experiences.”  

Images courtesy Pacific Explorer Facebook