Day trippers get on board

Bookings bounty as Spirit of Tasmania refurbishment nears completion

FORWARD bookings on Spirit of Tasmania ferry day sailings have doubled and a new deal is expected to bring continued growth in passenger numbers.

There are 33 extra day sailings planned for this financial year, which will bring total annual Bass Strait crossings to a record 800.

Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding said closer marketing arrangements between Tourism Tasmania and TTLine through a three-year memorandum of understanding ( MOU) signed yesterday would provide a further boost to passenger numbers.

“The MOU specifically references developing joint marketing opportunities, sharing relevant market research, collaboration on key events, joint trade and media familiarisation programs and social media,” he said.

There was a 108 per cent increase in forward bookings on day sailings compared with the same time last year.

“The doubling of forward bookings comes before the completion of the vessels’ refurbishments, which are designed to make day sailings a more attractive, enjoyable experience for passengers,” Mr Hidding said.

“Overall, we have already seen a 30 per cent increase in forward bookings on all sailings between the beginning of this month and the same time in 2013, when the previous Labor-Green government was in office.”

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said TT-Line’s day- sailing strategy was a “gamechanging” opportunity for the Spirit of Tasmania and regional tourism operators.

“We need Spirit of Tasmania to maximise its share of the growing tourism markets because visitors who arrive to Tasmania by sea stay longer, spend more and disperse further into regional areas,” he said.

TT-Line chief executive Bernard Dwyer said the company was looking to build on its passenger growth not only through the outcomes of the MOU, but through the $31.5 million refurbishment of the vessels.

The refurbished ferries will feature new on-board dining and entertainment options, including cinemas, when they are revealed early next month.