Published Friday, 23 November, 2007 at 10:03 AM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Townsville set to celebrate a cruisey Christmas season
Townsville is set to reap the benefits of a boating bonanza this festive season with a number of cruise liners scheduled to arrive in the northern Queensland port.
An estimated $4 million is expected to be injected into the Townsville economy, with the arrival of four major cruise liners over the summer.
The vessels, which include Super Star Gemini, Nautica, Pacific Star and MV Astoria, will bring an estimated 5860 passengers into the city.
Acting Tourism and Regional Development Minister and Member for Thuringowa Craig Wallace has welcomed the news saying the city was set for a sizzling summer of visitors.
Mr Wallace said from December to February, Super Star Gemini, Nautica and Pacific Star would dock twice in Townsville, and MV Astoria would dock once, bringing thousands of tourists to Queensland shores.
“You don’t have to be a great mathematician to realise the economic impact this influx of visitors will have on our city,” Mr Wallace said.
“The Queensland Government has been working hard to encourage domestic and international cruise liners into our waters, and this volume of ships and passengers reflects that we have a great range of tourism experiences to offer once they arrive.
“While we always welcome visitors by any means of transportation, cruise liners offer an exciting alternative to more traditional means of transport, and we are excited by the prospect.”
Mr Wallace said Queensland’s cruise shipping industry was worth $132.6 million a year and growing.
The industry was estimated to be worth more than $132 million to Queensland in 2006-07 – a more than nine-fold increase from 2001 when the industry was estimated to be worth just $14 million.
Ends
Media inquiries: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654.
An estimated $4 million is expected to be injected into the Townsville economy, with the arrival of four major cruise liners over the summer.
The vessels, which include Super Star Gemini, Nautica, Pacific Star and MV Astoria, will bring an estimated 5860 passengers into the city.
Acting Tourism and Regional Development Minister and Member for Thuringowa Craig Wallace has welcomed the news saying the city was set for a sizzling summer of visitors.
Mr Wallace said from December to February, Super Star Gemini, Nautica and Pacific Star would dock twice in Townsville, and MV Astoria would dock once, bringing thousands of tourists to Queensland shores.
“You don’t have to be a great mathematician to realise the economic impact this influx of visitors will have on our city,” Mr Wallace said.
“The Queensland Government has been working hard to encourage domestic and international cruise liners into our waters, and this volume of ships and passengers reflects that we have a great range of tourism experiences to offer once they arrive.
“While we always welcome visitors by any means of transportation, cruise liners offer an exciting alternative to more traditional means of transport, and we are excited by the prospect.”
Mr Wallace said Queensland’s cruise shipping industry was worth $132.6 million a year and growing.
The industry was estimated to be worth more than $132 million to Queensland in 2006-07 – a more than nine-fold increase from 2001 when the industry was estimated to be worth just $14 million.
Ends
Media inquiries: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654.