Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
A real change of pace because we know that into
(00:02):
tourism is rejoicing after a record cruise ship season in Darwin.
One hundred and thirteen ships docked in the city this season,
bringing in eighty thousand passengers, the largest number of visitors
yet Now. The biggest ship to visit our shores was
the Crown Princess, which doctor in Darwin yesterday morning with
three thousand passengers on board. Joining me on the line,
(00:25):
is Tourism top Ends General Manager Samantha Bennett, Good morning
to you.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Sam morning, Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Good to have you on the show. It sounds like
it has been an absolute bumper cruise season. Do you
know how the numbers this year stacked up to last year?
Speaker 2 (00:42):
The numbers have been fantastic. The main difference is that
ships are actually full their act capacity. So sometimes ships
can come in and you know they've only got they'll
have one third of their rooms vacant. But this year
we saw that they were really strong, that market is
(01:03):
really growing with the visitor and that those ships were full.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
And why do you reckon they're full? Now? Do you
think it is still a lagging on from COVID days?
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Yeah, and I think the offering is really different. We've
seen a couple of new ships. We had a lot
of maiden voyages this year around the world cruises as well.
I mean we're geographically located perfectly for the market, so
you know, we're an important stop for them as well.
And I think that that sector will just continue to
(01:38):
grow because it's gotten quite clever and diversifying, so it's
got everything from high end to family.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Now. In terms of how important the cruise ship sector
is to our local businesses, I mean it must provide
a real boost when those big cruise ships arrive.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Yeah, the outcomes are really tangible. You know, it puts
about a hun hundred and eighty million dollars into the economy.
It supports about five hundred local jobs. It keeps out
tour operators, our attractions, our hospitality, retail. It gives us
a reason to open our doors when it's traditionally our
quietest time of the year. So I think it's a
(02:18):
really big important part of our industry.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
And has there been some extra work done by tourism
toping to really try to capitalize on those cruise ship visitors.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Yeah, we have. I mean we run the visitor information
center and so using their shuttle buses to bring them
up here and then give them the local touch. I mean,
we're our role in all of this as a visitor
information center is is to inspire them to come back.
We want to give them a bit of a taste
at the top end, and then we want them to
(02:49):
come back and plan their holiday here next year. There
was a lot of domestic a lot of Australians on
those ships this year as well, so they're traditionally the
people that might come back at and take a longer look.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Now, tell me, I understand that there was a survey
conducted of passengers on thirteen of the ships this season.
What were some of those key findings.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
They were really happy with the you know everybody thinks,
oh it's really hot, They were really happy. I think
about ninety one percent were satisfied with their visits. There's
a lot to do. Everything from you know, jumping crocodiles,
lichfield tours, hanging out in town, the ANZAC day services
(03:35):
and things like that was really well embraced as well.
They're looking at what we're doing here, so they actually
really love it when we come on the weekend, they
get out the markets. Yeah, I mean Italian Festival was
on at the same pot.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
They had so much to do on the weekend.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Didn't They so many choices.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Which is awesome, Like you want people to arrive and go,
oh wow, one is fantastic. You know, there's heaps on
and the weather was slightly cooler for us, so hopefully
they all enjoyed themselves.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Yeah, the feedback from yesterday was great. And you know,
our operators have been really great as well. We've had
we've activated our lawns and we've had crocodiles and snakes
and you know, it's an opportunity for operators who don't
sholl on board the ship to talk about what they've
got to offer as well. And I mean we're not
(04:29):
resting on our laurels. Tomorrow is the Cruise Ship Forum yep,
and which is Tourism and Tea are running that, but
we are working with them. That will see a lot
of operators and that will start connecting the industry with
the people who buy the product that they sell on
the ship, so the ground handlers. Yeah, right, So we're
planning for next year already.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
That's good And I think you have to, right, like
you've got to make sure every year that we are
planning ahead so that we can make sure people want
to come back. In terms of that forum, who's expected
to attend and you know what sort of outcomes are
you looking for.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
I think there's about ninety operators that will come to
that and there will be the ground handling companies like
bob Ward and Into Cruisers Holidays of Australia which do
a lot of the expedition so they do a lot
of they do a lot of again and then onto
(05:24):
the expedition ships that they they're here all year round
and the head of people that sell this destination for us,
so they're a really important part of the whole distribution channel.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Now, Sam, I understand as well the season for large
cruise ships has ended, but the focus now turns to
those expedition ships.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Yeah. Absolutely. What we love about them is that they
come and stay a couple of days before they travel,
so they they and they like a bit of a variety,
you know, some of the really high end ships they'll
go and spend time in places like our luxury lodgers.
And we've got quite a few opportunities with that. We've
(06:05):
got Finnis River and some great accommodation out at the Winda.
You know, there's that sector is also growing. We'd love
to see more stuff happening in anam Land, but we're
really happy to see that anam Land is also developing
its product offering. So I think that you know, and
(06:26):
these guys will do a helicopter and you know they'll
do the smaller touring as well, so I think that's
a really important part of the market. But you know,
they also come and I mean this year we have
the best seat capacity we've had in a long time
from airlines, so that fly drive, fly cruise those markets here,
(06:50):
it's improving all the time.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Well, that is good. It is really good to hear.
Samantha Bennett, general manager of Tourism Top End. Really good
to speak with you this morning. Sure we'll talk again
too soon.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Thanks Gating, Thank you,
A real change of pace because we know that into
(00:02):
tourism is rejoicing after a record cruise ship season in Darwin.
One hundred and thirteen ships docked in the city this season,
bringing in eighty thousand passengers, the largest number of visitors
yet Now. The biggest ship to visit our shores was
the Crown Princess, which doctor in Darwin yesterday morning with
three thousand passengers on board. Joining me on the line,
(00:25):
is Tourism top Ends General Manager Samantha Bennett, Good morning
to you.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Sam morning, Katie.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Good to have you on the show. It sounds like
it has been an absolute bumper cruise season. Do you
know how the numbers this year stacked up to last year?
Speaker 2 (00:42):
The numbers have been fantastic. The main difference is that
ships are actually full their act capacity. So sometimes ships
can come in and you know they've only got they'll
have one third of their rooms vacant. But this year
we saw that they were really strong, that market is
(01:03):
really growing with the visitor and that those ships were full.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
And why do you reckon they're full? Now? Do you
think it is still a lagging on from COVID days?
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Yeah, and I think the offering is really different. We've
seen a couple of new ships. We had a lot
of maiden voyages this year around the world cruises as well.
I mean we're geographically located perfectly for the market, so
you know, we're an important stop for them as well.
And I think that that sector will just continue to
(01:38):
grow because it's gotten quite clever and diversifying, so it's
got everything from high end to family.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Now. In terms of how important the cruise ship sector
is to our local businesses, I mean it must provide
a real boost when those big cruise ships arrive.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Yeah, the outcomes are really tangible. You know, it puts
about a hun hundred and eighty million dollars into the economy.
It supports about five hundred local jobs. It keeps out
tour operators, our attractions, our hospitality, retail. It gives us
a reason to open our doors when it's traditionally our
quietest time of the year. So I think it's a
(02:18):
really big important part of our industry.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
And has there been some extra work done by tourism
toping to really try to capitalize on those cruise ship visitors.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Yeah, we have. I mean we run the visitor information
center and so using their shuttle buses to bring them
up here and then give them the local touch. I mean,
we're our role in all of this as a visitor
information center is is to inspire them to come back.
We want to give them a bit of a taste
at the top end, and then we want them to
(02:49):
come back and plan their holiday here next year. There
was a lot of domestic a lot of Australians on
those ships this year as well, so they're traditionally the
people that might come back at and take a longer look.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Now, tell me, I understand that there was a survey
conducted of passengers on thirteen of the ships this season.
What were some of those key findings.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
They were really happy with the you know everybody thinks,
oh it's really hot, They were really happy. I think
about ninety one percent were satisfied with their visits. There's
a lot to do. Everything from you know, jumping crocodiles,
lichfield tours, hanging out in town, the ANZAC day services
(03:35):
and things like that was really well embraced as well.
They're looking at what we're doing here, so they actually
really love it when we come on the weekend, they
get out the markets. Yeah, I mean Italian Festival was
on at the same pot.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
They had so much to do on the weekend.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Didn't They so many choices.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Which is awesome, Like you want people to arrive and go,
oh wow, one is fantastic. You know, there's heaps on
and the weather was slightly cooler for us, so hopefully
they all enjoyed themselves.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Yeah, the feedback from yesterday was great. And you know,
our operators have been really great as well. We've had
we've activated our lawns and we've had crocodiles and snakes
and you know, it's an opportunity for operators who don't
sholl on board the ship to talk about what they've
got to offer as well. And I mean we're not
(04:29):
resting on our laurels. Tomorrow is the Cruise Ship Forum yep,
and which is Tourism and Tea are running that, but
we are working with them. That will see a lot
of operators and that will start connecting the industry with
the people who buy the product that they sell on
the ship, so the ground handlers. Yeah, right, So we're
planning for next year already.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
That's good And I think you have to, right, like
you've got to make sure every year that we are
planning ahead so that we can make sure people want
to come back. In terms of that forum, who's expected
to attend and you know what sort of outcomes are
you looking for.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
I think there's about ninety operators that will come to
that and there will be the ground handling companies like
bob Ward and Into Cruisers Holidays of Australia which do
a lot of the expedition so they do a lot
of they do a lot of again and then onto
(05:24):
the expedition ships that they they're here all year round
and the head of people that sell this destination for us,
so they're a really important part of the whole distribution channel.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Now, Sam, I understand as well the season for large
cruise ships has ended, but the focus now turns to
those expedition ships.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Yeah. Absolutely. What we love about them is that they
come and stay a couple of days before they travel,
so they they and they like a bit of a variety,
you know, some of the really high end ships they'll
go and spend time in places like our luxury lodgers.
And we've got quite a few opportunities with that. We've
(06:05):
got Finnis River and some great accommodation out at the Winda.
You know, there's that sector is also growing. We'd love
to see more stuff happening in anam Land, but we're
really happy to see that anam Land is also developing
its product offering. So I think that you know, and
(06:26):
these guys will do a helicopter and you know they'll
do the smaller touring as well, so I think that's
a really important part of the market. But you know,
they also come and I mean this year we have
the best seat capacity we've had in a long time
from airlines, so that fly drive, fly cruise those markets here,
(06:50):
it's improving all the time.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Well, that is good. It is really good to hear.
Samantha Bennett, general manager of Tourism Top End. Really good
to speak with you this morning. Sure we'll talk again
too soon.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Thanks Gating, Thank you,
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