WA showcases cruise cred

YESTERDAY the Western Australian Government kicked off the sixth WA Cruise Exchange in Perth, aiming to further raise the state’s profile as a “world-class cruise shipping destination”.

WA Tourism Minister Roger Cook said the event was particularly timely given the imminent return of major cruise liners to Western Australia.

The four-day conference includes representatives from Carnival Australia, Royal Caribbean Group, MSC Cruises, Ponant and APT, along with several first-time attendees including Heritage Cruises, Coral Expeditions and Viking Cruises.

The event will showcase eight Western Australian cruise destinations: Albany, Broome, Busselton, Dampier, Esperance, Exmouth, Fremantle and Geraldton, while the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council is also highlighting some of the state’s Aboriginal tours and experiences.

Cook noted that the Exchange comes ahead of a “bumper summer cruise season” for Western Australia, which will kick off with a maiden call by Coral Princess to Fremantle on 28 Oct, followed by Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth on 07 Nov.

He also highlighted next year’s Ponant Kimberley season which will see its luxury Le Ponant three-masted sailing vessel (see p1) cruise between Broome and Kuri Bay.

This week’s conference will see 24 cruise line representatives, along with ground handlers and industry peak bodies, visit ports such as Busselton, Broome and Fremantle and explore attractions in the surrounding regions as the industry pitches destinations for inclusion in itineraries.