Cruise industry questions WA gaming controls

Saturday, 07 Dec, 2009 0

SYDNEY – Other issues raised by the Access Economics cruise industry report for Carnival Australia included:

Gaming regulation: Industry consultation highlighted that gaming controls in Western Australia affect the value of the package of services offered to passengers on cruise shipping off the coast of WA.

The gaming controls are designed to support the objective of established gaming interests in the state, an activity that is likely to only compete with cruise shipping at the margin.

Proclaimed ports and immigration: Customs requirements dictate that people can only board a cruise ship in Australia from a proclaimed port. While this is done for legitimate reasons, it does not allow the sector to operate in a flexible fashion in regards to itinerary.

One suggested solution for this has been for the cruise liner to pay for Customs officials to travel on their ships, although during the consultation it was indicated that resources at Customs are inadequate for this.

Health and safety: The recent Swine Flu incident on a P&O ship highlighted the lack of coordination across states and territories.

Information received from industry suggested there was no national approach and in some cases each state was offering differing advice on how to deal with the matter. In contrast, the airports had a national approach to deal with this issue.

Other issues: The sector also faces geographical difficulties to overcome if it is to expand its share of the world cruise market.

Australia’s large land mass and dispersed population makes it difficult to offer packages with frequent port visits as is done overseas, like in the Mediterranean.

The concern is heightened by the time it takes to arrive in Australia to begin the cruise.

Economic Contribution: Around 53 percent of the cruise sector’s contribution in 2007-08 was to the New South Wales economy, followed by Queensland and Victoria. The contribution to the NSW economy increased by an estimated 90 percent over the period 2006-07 to 2007-08.

Ian Jarrett

Our leadership is bold. Our agility thrives on open innovation and we embrace the new, whether it’s diversity, trends, challenges....

The superpower in bed banks for 30 years We are an award-winning and trusted accommodation wholesaler since 1991. We are...

Consisting of the three Maritime provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island as well as Newfoundland and...

Central Florida’s Polk County is conveniently located between Orlando and Tampa, and an easy drive to Central Florida attractions and...

Take your clients’ vacation to the next level at Universal Orlando Resort™. With three amazing theme parks – Universal Studios...

City Cruises is a leading operator of sightseeing, dining and charter services operating in London, York and Poole. We offer...

The Oregon Tourism Commission, dba Travel Oregon, works to enhance visitors’ experiences by providing information, resources and trip planning tools...

Ensuring our guests have an unforgettable experience while sailing with us is paramount; however, your health and safety remains our...

It’s easy to find perfection in Santa Barbara, but what if there was even more of your favorite finds, activities,...

We are the UK’s leading Canada travel experts Canadian Affair Company Information Founded in 1995, Canadian Affair offers an...

Babble is a leading technology business that is reimagining how we do work. Founded in 2001, the company works with...

Destination British Columbia (Destination BC) is a Provincially funded, industry-led Crown corporation that supports a strong and competitive future for BC’s...

The Mexico Tourism Board serves as the driving force behind Mexico’s global appeal, orchestrating targeted marketing campaigns to showcase the...

MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500® global entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels...

Intrepid Travel is a world leader in sustainable experience-rich travel that has been taking travellers to discover the world’s most amazing places...

Traveltek is the world-leading provider of online solutions for the travel trade, from consumer-facing websites to call centre applications. We...

ECOMMPAY is an international payment service provider and direct bank card acquirer, engineering bespoke payment solutions for clients worldwide. Our...