Picture: supplied
A record 131 cruise ship visits to the Northern Territory last financial year is spurring hopes of a record season.
The NT Government says it earned $181 million in revenue for the 2023-24 FY, largely driven by Darwin as the primary cruise hub.
In the 2023-24 season, out of 131 visits, 118 of those were to Darwin while Yirrkala, Bathurst Island and Melville Island also hosted visits.
The government said that record may be surpassed for the new FY with 127 cruise calls already scheduled for Darwin, 13 of them maiden calls.
NT Tourism and Hospitality CEO Suzana Bishop says the cruise sector is again proving its economic worth to the territory.
“As the Territory gears up for its largest cruise season yet, the cruise sector continues to be a cornerstone of the NT’s tourism economy …” she says.
The next major arrival, the Queen Elizabeth, is set to dock in Darwin this Saturday (October 26) on its circumnavigation of Australia.
The ship will carry up to 2068 passengers and 900 crew members, in Darwin from Cairns before heading to Bali.
“We’re thrilled to welcome passengers from the Queen Elizabeth this week,” Bishop says.
“The arrival of such a prestigious ship underscores the importance of the cruise sector to the NT’s economy, providing a unique opportunity to showcase the region’s rich Aboriginal culture, military history and iconic natural wonders like Kakadu and Litchfield national parks.”
The government says global cruise industry reports reflects a national resurgence in cruise tourism with Australia’s total economic output reaching $8.4 billion in 2023-24, a 49.7% increase on the year before as the industry recovers from the pandemic.
Nationally, the number of cruise ships visiting Australian ports increased by 27.1 per cent with 75 ships operating across the country.
