Broome hosts 2018 national cruise conference

• Cruising critical to WA's tourism economy
• Conference at Cable Beach Club Resort attracts about 120 delegates
• Dredging of Broome port due for completion at the end of the year
• All-tide gangway system due for completion in 2019 

The 2018 Australian Cruise Association's annual conference in Broome is underway with about 120 delegates attending the much-anticipated event.

The conference, which Tourism Minister Paul Papalia officially opened today, has attracted leading national and international cruise line executives, shore excursion operators, port authorities, providores, shipping agents and tour businesses.

The 2018 ACA Conference program covers a wide range of topics and provides attendees with an opportunity to further develop knowledge of the cruise industry and meet influential key cruise line executives and decision makers.

It also provides an opportunity to promote Western Australia as an extraordinary cruise shipping destination, with a post-conference familiarisation trip to the Kimberley coast, hosted by Tourism WA, available for VIP delegates.

The cruise sector contributed $387 million to WA's economy in 2016-17 and supported 1,448 jobs. It provides direct economic benefit to the State's 10 cruise gateway destinations, including Broome.

Broome Port welcomed 22 cruise superliners carrying more than 20,000 guests and 10,000 crew in 2016-17, injecting about $10 million into the State's economy.

The McGowan Government made a commitment to remedy infrastructure issues at the Port of Broome to grow cruise shipping, undertaking the dredging of the channel by the end of this year to enable improved access for large cruise ships.

Federal Government funding has also been secured to purchase an all-tide above wharf gangway system for Broome Port in 2019, which will enable safer and more efficient passenger disembarkation.

In March, the State Government welcomed an announcement from Carnival Australia that it would homeport the Sun Princess superliner in Fremantle for a record 141 days in 2019-20.

The Sun Princess' homeported season will involve 29 cruise ship visits, including 18 to regional port destinations such as Albany, Busselton, Geraldton and Broome, and is predicted to inject $32 million into WA's economy.

The move represents the biggest investment a Carnival Australia brand has made in cruising in WA. Each cruise ship visit will bring thousands of visitors to each port as passengers disembark and explore the on-shore attractions.

Comments attributed to Tourism Minister Paul Papalia:

"I congratulate everyone involved in making this conference a success, and welcome all visiting delegates to Broome in our beautiful North-West.

"The decision by the Australian Cruise Association to choose Broome for this year's conference shows just how much they believe in the future of the Kimberley, and WA overall, as a cruise destination.

"Growing the cruise market and attracting more people to regional WA is a key part of Tourism WA's Two-Year-Action Plan."

Minister's office - 6552 5600