New data shows cruising industry injects more than $333 million into WA economy

Newly released data from the Australian Cruise Association shows Western Australia's booming cruise sector injected more than $333 million into the State's economy last financial year.

The latest statistics from the Association highlight that the 2022-23 cruise season saw cruise ships dock in WA ports more than 150 times, creating more than 1,000 local jobs across the cruise, tourism and hospitality industries.

The Port of Fremantle had a particularly bumper year with 33 cruise ship visits to the historic port city.

The strong results come as the upcoming cruise season kicks off with the arrival of the Coral Princess on Saturday, 11th November, bringing 2,000 passengers into the Port of Fremantle.

In 2023-24, cruise ships will visit WA more than 140 times across WA's seven active ports at Albany, Busselton, Broome, Esperance, Exmouth, Fremantle and Geraldton.

Fremantle will greet the most cruise liners, with nearly 30 cruise visits bringing more than 36,000 passengers and 17,000 crew to the port city this financial year.

Broome will also enjoy visits from some of the world's leading expedition cruise brands in 2023-24 including Ponant, Silversea, National Geographic Lindblad and Australia's own Coral Expeditions.

The WA Government continues to prioritise growth in the cruise sector, with the recent launch of Tourism WA's Western Australian Cruise Tourism Strategic Plan 2023-2033, which outlines plans to further build on the sector's success.

The Strategic Plan prioritises enhancing onshore activities and experiences for visitors, as well as attracting new cruise lines to WA, expanding WA itineraries, and further developing marine infrastructure across the state.

Image: Cruise ship Ovation of the Seas. Credit: Fremantle Port