Major cruise ship operators all aboard for WA Cruise Exchange

• Perth to host the seventh WA Cruise Exchange at Crown Towers 19-20 July
•  Conference showcases WA ports and onshore excursions to leading cruise lines
• Western Australian Cruise Tourism Strategic Plan 2023-2033 announced
• Strategic plan outlines actions to further build on the successful return of cruise shipping to WA last year
• Supported by Western Australian Government, through Tourism Western Australia

The world's biggest cruise ship industry operators have dropped anchor in Perth to attend the seventh WA Cruise Exchange at Crown Towers Perth, which starts today.

Hosted by the WA Government, the WA Cruise Exchange aims to connect industry leaders with representatives of the State's ports, as well as tourism industry operators.

The WA Cruise Exchange 2023 will continue to raise the profile of the State as a world-class cruise shipping destination and aims to grow economic benefits for WA port destinations in future seasons.

Prior to the pandemic, the cruising sector contributed $276 million to the WA economy and supported more than 1000 jobs.

Tourism WA's Western Australian Cruise Tourism Strategic Plan 2023-2033 will also launched at the event.

The Plan outlines strategic initiatives to boost Western Australia's presence in even more cruise ship itineraries in the future.

A host of representatives of leading cruise lines are scheduled to attend the conference, including Ambassador Cruise Line, APT Travel Group, Carnival Australia, Coral Expeditions, MSC Cruises, Ponant Yacht Cruises, Luxury Expeditions and Royal Caribbean Group.

Also attending are ground handlers, shipping agents and representatives from peak cruise industry bodies, including the Australian Cruise Association and Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA). 

Nine WA port destinations - Albany, Broome, Busselton, Dampier, Esperance, Exmouth, Fremantle, Geraldton and Port Hedland – will be represented, as well as the peak body for Aboriginal tours and experiences in WA, the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council.

Following two days of business-to-business workshops and round table discussions in Perth, delegates will visit Geraldton and explore some of the tourism attractions in the surrounding region, including Houtman Abrolhos Islands and Kalbarri National Park. 

They will also meet with cruise-ready operators in Geraldton to discuss potential business opportunities around successfully servicing the cruise tourism market.

For more information on cruise shipping in WA and to view the Western Australian Cruise Tourism Strategic Plan 2023-2033 visit tourism.wa.gov.au/cruise-shipping

Comments attributed to Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti:

"The WA Cruise Exchange is a great opportunity for WA to show the global cruise industry that our State has untapped potential when it comes to providing incredible onshore experiences for guests seeking once-in-a-lifetime and unforgettable adventures.

"It's wonderful to see recent results into Western Australia's key tourism markets indicating  the global appeal of our State as a cruise holiday destination continues to increase.

"Western Australia's regions have so much to offer, from spectacular beaches across the State, the world's largest fringing coral reef at Ningaloo, to the towering forests of the South West - there really is something for everyone who visits one of our incredible port destinations by cruise ship.

"The WA Government is fully committed to positioning Western Australia as a premier destination for cruise ships, and is determined to see the State's cruise tourism sector continue to grow."