Ships boost NW tourism

Broome may have experienced a lull this tourist season but the town was positively buzzing at the weekend.

Two historic fly-in, fly-out ocean liner passenger transfers, the arrival of an Indonesian Navy tall ship and the Shinju Matsuri Festival float parade and Mardi Gras kept the town busy.

Passengers aboard international boutique cruise ships the Caledonian Sky and the Orion departed their vessels and headed home while about 230 jetted into town from across Australia and overseas to begin their dream holidays from Broome to Indonesia and Timor.

At the same time, Indonesian cadets from naval training ship the Dewaruci - renowned as having one of the best marching bands in the world - took part in the festival float parade and Mardi Gras on Sunday.

Broome Port Authority chief executive Vic Justice said previously passengers only joined cruise liners in cities like Fremantle and Darwin.

"We are now value-adding as cruise ships can have their existing passengers leave and fly out and the same number fly in," he said.

"This creates a very positive knock-on effect. More money is being spent in the community because more people require accommodation, food and transport.

"This is something we have not had before and it is something we want to encourage as it brings good to the town as opposed to a ship where the passengers come in, they go off for about five or six hours, have a look around and go back to the ship."

Shinju Matsuri events and logistics manager Mel Virgo said the 43rd annual festival that ran to September 22 was shaping up as a blockbuster.

"Shinju has brought the town to life and the extra visitors were a real bonus," she said.

"Having the Indonesian naval cadets marching also added another dimension to the float parade and Mardi Gras."

Acting Shire of Broome president Dr Anne Poelina, whose father came from West Timor, said it was "wonderful to have young Indonesians coming to Broome to share cultural experiences and strengthen personal and military relations as they are our closest neighbours and have a long history of coming to this region".

"With growth in cruise ships, strengthening ties with our maritime neighbours and providing logistical support for the oil and gas industry, Broome is benefiting from our long history as a multicultural port," she said.

Broome Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Tony Proctor said the town was headed for a new chapter in economic growth. Inpex earlier this month chose Broome as one of its supply bases for the development of its Ichthys LNG project in the Browse Basin. "This is the beginning of Broome's recognition as the supply base for the North West," he said.

Mr Proctor said Inpex's operation would bring business opportunities, long-term employment and community benefits to Broome.