The year-round presence of cruise ships like the Sea Princess in Fremantle Port could bring millions of dollars to the local economy.
Camera IconThe year-round presence of cruise ships like the Sea Princess in Fremantle Port could bring millions of dollars to the local economy. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

A perennial port presence

Staff ReporterFremantle Gazette

During the launch of Princess Cruises’ winter season, local media were taken on a tour of the Sea Princess, while the company’s Australia and New Zealand vice president Stuart Allison extolled the virtues of an additional summer season for the Western Australian and Fremantle tourism industry.

An additional summer season from April 2015, providing round trip cruises from Fremantle all year round, would triple the number of passengers.

He said each turnaround for a 2000 passenger ship like Sea Princess would bring $1 million into the economy through supplies, port fees, as well as passenger and crew shopping, meals and taxis.

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‘Our local shopping list will include thousands of kilograms of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as dairy products and, of course, Western Australian wine,’ he said.

He said last year the number of Australian cruise passengers grew by 20 per cent and Western Australian passengers represented 8 per cent of the market.