Bookings double on Spirits as TT-Line, Tourism Tasmania commit to new MOU

The Hodgman Liberal Government’s plan for the Spirit of Tasmania ferries to play a greater role in growing the State’s visitor numbers is already bearing fruit with forward bookings for day sailings more than doubling.

Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding said closer marketing arrangements between Tourism Tasmania and TT-Line, meanwhile, would provide a further boost to passenger numbers through a commitment by both parties to work together to attract more visitors to Tasmania.

“The three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) being announced today will see the Government’s tourism marketing agency and the State-owned operator of the Spirits develop a stronger working relationship,” Mr Hidding said.

“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.

“This is about a shared commitment to help realise the Government’s vision of increasing visitor numbers to Tasmania to 1.5 million a year by 2020.”

Mr Hidding said the incredible 108 per cent increase in forward bookings on day sailings, compared to the same time last year, showed the Government’s plan for the Spirits is already helping to drive this growth in our tourism industry.

“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,” he said.
“Also, with a new marketing campaign focussed on the day sailings only having just begun, we can expect demand to climb even further.

“Under the new business model developed by TT-Line in line with the Government’s policy, there are 33 extra day sailings planned for this financial year, which will bring total annual sailings to a record 800 and help bring many more visitors to Tasmania.

“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.

“The MOU between Tourism Tasmania and TT-Line shows that we are working across Government to realise our vision.”

TT-Line Company Pty Ltd chief executive officer Bernard Dwyer said the company was looking to build on its passenger growth, not only through the outcomes of the MOU, but through the major refurbishment of the vessels.

Tourism Tasmania acting chief executive officer Guy Taylor said the domestic travel market was important to Tourism Tasmania and TT-Line, and those who arrived on the ships tended to spend longer here and explore further afield.

“This benefits our regions, which is really important,” Mr Taylor said.

“The MOU represents a commitment by both parties to work together to attract more visitors to Tasmania.”

Mr Dwyer said while TT-Line had always enjoyed a close working relationship with Tourism Tasmania, formalising this through the MOU was a logical next step given the size of the respective marketing expenditures.

“Both organisations clearly have a key role to play to assist the Government to increase visitor numbers to 1.5 million people by the year 2020,” he said.

“Over the coming months we will be working to identify specific opportunities for collaboration, especially in the areas of joint marketing activities and research,” Mr Taylor said.
Rene Hidding, Minister for Infrastructure