More cruises on horizon for NSW coast as industry picks up after conflict

The war in the Red Sea being waged by the Houthis, an Iranian-backed rebel group, has meant a number of cruise ships have bowed out of visiting Australia during the 2024/25 season.

Port Authority CEO Philip Holliday said cruising was still feeling the effects of COVID as companies planned their routes and holiday packages at least three years ahead.

"According to data from Cruise Lines International Association, each domestic cruise passenger spends on average $197 per day while in port which helps to boost NSW regional economies," said NSW Minister for Transport Jo Haylen.

The Minister was speaking in Eden, a popular cruise destination on the NSW Far South Coast, following a visit to tourism operators to take in some of the tourist attractions on offer to cruise ship visitors on March 27 after the Norwegian Spirit had berthed at Eden.

Port Authority CEO Philip Holliday said numbers were expected to pick up again in 2025/26 when 47 ships would be visiting Eden, adding that he expected Virgin Voyages would also returning after an absence from Australia

"This has been a very successful season and we look forward to continued growth in the future. The wharf only opened in 2020, in time for COVID to come along and devastate the industry.

"We're still only in the infancy and to be where we're at in such a short space of time and the projections in a couple of years time, this is a business that will continue to grow and benefit the community," Mr Holliday said.

Some of that growth is expected to come from changes to the wharf in terms of taking larger ships and accommodating overnight stays. They are part of a consultative process but Mr Holliday is clearly positive about the potential outcome for the cruise industry and Eden.

"At the moment we're trying to maximise the value of the cruise wharf. We're close to getting a decision to provide more use of the facilities," he said.

"The more ships come, the more success the local economy has but at the same time we don't want to ruin the thing that brings people here," Mr Holliday said.

Ms Haylen said the application was with the Department of Planning and more would be known in "coming months".