Cruise liner boost for local economy

Princess Cruises has announced it is doubling the number of 2000-capacity cruise liners visiting Broome from next year, meaning thousands of extra passengers pumping more than $1.3 million into the local economy.

The company will have the Sea Princess, the Dawn Princess and the Sun Princess based in WA for a full year from April 2015.

As a result, Broome will benefit from six visits instead of the normal three during the peak season.

They will happen in 2015 on April 4, June 12, July 19, August 26 and October 25, and March 23, 2016.

The Dawn Princess and Sea Princess will embark on 12 itineraries departing Fremantle from April to October, including Broome, Margaret River, Bali, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

The Sun Princess, which recently underwent a multimillion-dollar refit with new restaurants and a health spa, will sail on 11 cruises to destinations such as India, South Africa and Mauritius between November 2015 and March 2016.

Princess Cruises vice-president Australia and New Zealand Stuart Allison said cruising was booming around Australia, with an annual passenger growth rate of 20 per cent over the past decade.

He said Broome was a WA feature with customers eager to visit the town built around the pearling industry.

"Broome is always a very popular port with our guests so we're delighted that the doubling of our presence in Western Australia in 2015-16 will mean we'll be making more calls to this stunning port," he said.

Broome Chamber of Commerce and Industry executive officer Maryanne Petersen estimated the additional visits will mean more than 5000 passengers spend about $1.3 million on port charges, transfer fees, tours and with local retailers.

She said the total spend from all six ships sailing to Broome would be in the region of $2.4 million.

"Cruise shipping is one of the fastest growing tourism sectors in the world and it is very promising that Broome is seriously getting into this market," she said.

"This number of visits will test capacity at the port and is important we continue to lobby the State Government for increased investment and funding, including public-private partnerships."

Australia's North West Tourism chief executive Glen Chidlow said it was a great opportunity to bolster the economy while allowing passengers to spread the word about Broome.

"Not only is it a chance to boost the town's economy over a short period, but each visitor becomes a potential advocate for Broome and hopefully also a future repeat guest," he said.