South Australia’s Cruise Tourism Hits Record $227 Million in 2023/24 Season

In the 2023/24 cruise ship season, South Australia welcomed over 208,000 passengers and crew, contributing a record $227 million to the state’s economy and supporting 738 jobs.

According to the Economic Impact Assessment of Cruise Tourism in Australia 2023/24-jointly commissioned by the Cruise Lines International Association and the Australian Cruise Association-this year’s figures represent an increase from the 2022/23 season, which saw $215 million spent in South Australia and supported 704 jobs.

The state enjoyed consistent cruise ship visits throughout the 2023/24 season, with a total of 122 cruise and expedition ships making port calls. This included 45 visits to Adelaide, 25 to Kangaroo Island, 10 to Port Lincoln, and 42 to expedition landing sites or anchorages in unique and remote coastal areas.

In a boost for the state’s tourism regions, a total of 27,228 shore excursions were undertaken during the season in destinations such as Kangaroo Island, Eyre Peninsula, and the Adelaide Hills.

This positive trend continues as South Australia kicked off the 2024/25 cruise season earlier this month, welcoming Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess, which visited Kangaroo Island, Port Lincoln, and Adelaide.

The upcoming 2024/25 season is set to feature 119 cruise and expedition ship visits, projected to bring approximately 241,000 passengers and crew to South Australian shores.

Notably, more than 20 first-time voyages are scheduled, including luxury cruise lines such as MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Hapag Lloyd Cruises, which will attract high-yield visitors to the state.

Jill Abel, chief executive of the Australian Cruise Association, highlighted that cruise tourism is at a record high in Australia, generating $8.43 billion for the national economy during 2023/24 while supporting over 26,000 jobs nationwide.

“Cruise ships visited 49 ports and destinations across Australia during 2023/24, resulting in increased visitor spending in every coastal state and territory,” Abel stated.

The economic impact is a significant windfall for businesses, including tourism operators, hotels, restaurants, retailers, transport providers, and port operators.Additionally, many passengers return to destinations they initially explored on a cruise, creating long-term benefits for local communities.