Cruise ships boost economy

The visit of P&O’s Sky Princess to Melbourne at the weekend — the 26th cruise ship to visit this season, between the months of November and March — marked the conclusion of Victoria's best ever cruise shipping season.

Station Pier’s international passenger terminal at Port Melbourne has played host to some of the world's finest cruise ships in the past five months, with the QEII being the highlight.

It is estimated the ships brought 35,000 visitors and $30 million to Victoria's economy.

More than 460 coaches were chartered, giving the local bus industry a revenue of over a quarter of a million dollars. Taxi and hire cars enjoyed similar benefits during ship visits.

The State Government launched its cruise shipping strategy, Cruising Victoria, in. The strategy aims to attract more than 30 cruise ship visits to Melbourne each year.

The Government has already spent $4 million in improving berthing and passenger facilities at Station Pier.

(News Release, Office of the Minister for Roads and Ports, March 30, 1999)