Cruise Tourism Means Business for the Whitsundays

There are few more visible signs of the strength of our visitor economy than a cruise ship sitting off Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour with thousands of passengers preparing to come ashore.

With around 90 cruise ship visits expected across the Whitsundays each year, cruise tourism has become an important part of our regional economy.

A single ship can carry several thousand passengers, and when even a portion of those visitors spend on tours, hospitality, retail, transport and local attractions, the benefit spreads well beyond the waterfront.

November also marks the beginning of the busy cruise season at our Council-owned Shute Harbour Marine Terminal, with eight ships scheduled during the month and a strong program continuing through to April.

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The opportunity is broader than tourism alone.

Cruise visitation supports local transport operators, cafes and restaurants, retailers, tour businesses and the many suppliers that help service the visitor economy. It also gives thousands of people a first taste of the Whitsundays — and an opportunity for us to turn a short visit into a reason to return.

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That is why infrastructure like Shute Harbour matters.

As our cruise market continues to grow, we need to think strategically about how we improve the visitor experience, support local businesses and capture more of the economic value created by each visit.

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The Whitsundays already has one of the most recognisable destinations in Australia.

The opportunity now is to make sure more of that visitation translates into local jobs, local spending and repeat visitors.

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