Port Arthur signs off another bumper cruise ship season

This Sunday Port Arthur Historic Site will welcome 2,600 passengers from the Golden Princess as the final cruise ship of the 2016-17 season.

“We have been extremely fortunate to have 22 cruise ships anchoring in Port Arthur with over 40,000 passengers and crew enjoying the historic site and amazing experiences of the Tasman Peninsula.” said Anne McVilly, Director of Tourism Operations at Port Arthur Historic Site.

Anne, who is also a Director of the Australian Cruise Association, recently returned from the Seatrade Global Trade Show and convention in Fort Lauderdale Florida where she reports cruise lines have a high awareness of and interest to bring ships to Australia and Tasmania. The most popular reason why passengers choose a particular cruise is based on the itinerary and the destinations visited. Tasmania has experienced significant growth in the cruise sector in recent years and will have 138 visits in 2017-18, which is a 45% increase on this season.

With a naturally deep anchorage, spectacular coastal scenery and world class attractions and experiences in the region, the World Heritage-listed Port Arthur Historic Site has always been a popular destination for cruise ship passengers arriving into Tasmania. Increasing cruise ship arrivals into Port Arthur has also had a positive impact on tourism businesses and experiences on the Tasman Peninsula.

This prodigious growth in cruise ship arrivals has contributed to the decision to redevelop the Port Arthur Visitor Centre. Started in January this year the extension and redevelopment of the visitor centre will further improve the visitor experience and services into the future.

Stephen Large Chief Executive Officer of the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority (PAHSMA) said:

“The redevelopment of the Port Arthur Visitor Centre is proceeding on schedule and we’re very pleased to be able to continue to offer visitors the full experiences of the historic site throughout the project. In addition we will be offering free theatrical performances and additional family activities over the Easter holidays included with every site entry ticket.”

The newly redeveloped Visitor Centre, planned to open in December this year, will have a new restaurant, increased dining and retail space as well as a large scale exhibition designed to engage visitors with the many stories of Port Arthur.

For more information on the full list of activities available at Port Arthur Historic Site go to www.portarthur.org.au
Jennifer Fitzpatrick, Marketing and Communications Manager