Tourism across Victoria is in for a major boost, with the return of cruise ships and increased direct international flights.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos today visited Station Pier in Port Melbourne to welcome 2,500 tourists aboard the Coral Princess – the first major cruise ship with passengers to dock in Melbourne in more than two years.
More cruise ships are scheduled to visit from late October through April next year, including Cunard’s iconic Queen Elizabeth which will dock in Melbourne from mid-November.
The return of cruises to Victoria is a welcome boon to to the state’s economy. In 2019, Victoria’s cruise industry employed more than 1,000 people full time and contributed $353 million to the state’s economy, bringing in more than 300,000 visitors to our state.
Station Pier, located on the doorstep of Melbourne’s CBD, will continue to be Victoria’s premier cruise ship destination, while Geelong, Portland and Phillip Island will also be active regional ports for cruises and are set to begin operations in early December.
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Representing another show of strength in Victoria’s growing tourism industry,United Airlines is increasing direct services to Melbourne and will offer daily flights from both San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The popular Melbourne-San Francisco route will commence daily flights this year from 28 October, increasing passenger capacity between Victoria and the United States, while Melbourne-Los Angeles will resume on 28 October and increase to daily flights on 1 December.
Investment from the Andrews Labor Government has ensured the Victorian tourism industry is primed to welcome international tourism, with new connections delivering more visitors to destinations across the state.
