Queensland is more cruisy than ever

Queensland is more cruisy than ever and there’s a good dollar in it for regional areas from Townsville and the Whitsundays south to Brisbane.

Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor says a new report by Cruise Down Under and Tourism Australia shows Queensland’s cruise ship industry generated nearly $300 million in 2009-10.

“That’s an increase of approximately $45 million on the previous year, (which) also supported approximately 1315 full-time jobs,” Mr Lawlor said in a statement.

Queensland ports also welcomed an extra 50,000 passengers last financial year, with the yearly figure hitting 300,317.

In the Whitsundays, Hamilton Island went from no cruise ship visits in 2008-09 to eight in the past financial year.

Local Member Jan Jarratt said the industry added $7.4 million to the Mackay/Whitsundays and Hamilton Island economy.

“That’s the equivalent of 75 full-time jobs,” she said.

Member for Cairns Desley Boyle said that in her region, cruise ship visits value-added $12.1 million to the economy and supported the equivalent of 123 full-time jobs.

Mr Lawlor said Townsville was boosted by just under $2 million while the value to Brisbane was more than $114 million, with Brisbane and Cairns expected to record strong increases over the next year as cruise ship visits to Australia increase.