THE event, taking place at Crown Towers Perth, is being attended by 25 delegates from 14 leading ocean, river and expedition lines along with WA port operators and shore excursion operators.
Among the cruise lines in attendance are Carnival Corp brands P&O Cruises Australia, Princess Cruises, Holland Americas Line and Seabourn along with Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises and Coral Expeditions.
Topics on the agenda include the 10-year Western Australia Cruise Tourism Strategic Plan, which includes a $35.5 million investment from the state government to conduct deck repairs and major fender upgrades at Victoria Quay at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal.
WA’s major port welcomed nearly 30 ships in 2022-23, equating to more than 36,000 passengers and 17,000 crew, generating $333 million and supporting more than 1,000 jobs in the state tourism economy.
The same period saw Broome cater to 74 vessels, primarily expedition ships collectively carrying over 30,000 passengers and crew, including the debut of Seabourn Pursuit.
Western Australia Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti said events such as WA Cruise Exchange help to facilitate more ships to its shores and ports.
“Western Australia is a premier destination for cruise and expedition ships, so it’s really exciting to welcome key industry representatives to our State and discuss the amazing experiences our local tourism operators can offer their guests,” she said.
