The NT Government says that the cruise ship industry is set to safely return to Territory waters in a multi-million-dollar boost to the local economy.
Reported to be based on expert health advice, the Chief Health Officer the NT Government has updated a direction permitting expedition cruise ships with up to 350 passengers and crew to operate in the Northern Territory.
This is a significant increase on the previous cap of 150 passengers and crew, but in reality a tiny step forward and still way behind what is realistically required to allow larger ships to vist the territory.
The NT Government says it recognises the cruise ship industry is a key economic driver and generated an estimated $60 million of annual expenditure within the Territory pre-COVID and says this decision forms part of the staged re-opening of the cruise industry in the Territory, in line with public health advice.
The real question is how much specialist cruise industry advice have they received and the tiny scale of this decision suggests very little or at least very limited.
The Territory Government says it is backing the tourism sector and businesses with a suite of measures including:
- $12.8 million to lure international holidaymakers and workers to the Territory
- Domestic marketing campaigns including Seek Different and Summer Sale
- Securing deals with Qantas to extend the double-daily London-Darwin route and establishing an E190 aircraft base
They also say other support measures they have implemented include the Territory Tourism Vouchers, Tourism Survival Fund, Visitation Reliant Small Business Support, and a Mates Rates campaign for Central Australia.
Hang on though, while all good stuff, all of these have little or nothing to do with cruising!
Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Natasha Fyles said, “The cruise ship industry is a vital part of the Top End tourism sector and injects millions into the economy each year”, adding, “This increase to the capacity of crew and passengers onboard domestic boutique cruise ships will be a major boost to operators and retailers”.
“We are safely re-opening the cruise ship industry in a staged approach and look forward to seeing this industry return and grow into the future.”
Sarina Bratton AM, Chair Asia Pacific PONANT said, “PONANT applauds the Northern Territory government’s decision in leading the nation to allow our small expedition ships to once again visit NT waters and seasonally homeport in Darwin”, which confirms my view that while this decision helps small ships operate in the NT, it does not help large ships and therefore has relatively limited econimic benefit and impact.
Ms Bratton added, “The international expedition sector is a major contributor to indigenous Australians along the Kimberley coastline, and significant contributors to the tourism economies of both the Northern Territory and Australia’s North West”, and “We are now calling upon the Australian Government to immediately adjust the declaration under the Biosecurity Act to allow our operations in Australian waters to commence.”
Edited by John Alwyn-Jones, Cruise Editor
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