24/01/2020 02:50 PM
Port of Eden open for business after the bushfires
Around 2000 cruise passengers arrived in the Port of Eden this morning (24 January) bringing welcome economic relief for communities recovering from the devastating bushfires.
The Norwegian Jewel is the first cruise ship to visit Eden since two previous cruise visits had to be cancelled due to the bushfires. Cruise tourism brings many economic benefits to Eden and the cancellations were felt far and wide.
Image: Norwegian Jewel is the first cruise ship to visit Eden since bushfires forced two cancellations
Natalie Godward, Port Authority's Cruise Development Manager in Eden, had seen the effects of the cruise ship cancellations first hand.
“We had a couple of cruise ships booked for Eden during the peak of the bushfires — both of which have to have been cancelled,” said Natalie.
“Each ship would have brought around 2–3000 visitors to the town, all spending money in local businesses.
“They would have spent the whole day in Eden and the Bega region: booked on tours, enjoying local restaurants and retail outlets — discovering our town.
Eden has become a popular destination on Australia’s cruise map and had 22 ships scheduled to visit over the 2019–2020 cruise season. In September, the Pacific Explorer was the first ship to berth at the new Eden Cruise Wharf, while just last month Port Authority announced plans for a new welcome centre to greet up to 100,000 visiting cruise passengers each year.
Image: Local RFS volunteers and New South Wales Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism, Stuart Ayres, greet the Norwegian Jewel on its arrival to the Port of Eden
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Managing Director Australasia Joel Katz said: “With the return of cruise tourism to Eden, 100% of Australia’s cruise ports are now open for business and welcoming visitors.
“The arrival of Norwegian Jewel in Eden is proof of the resilience of our regional communities and their tourism operators,”
Tourism and Transport Forum Chief Executive Margy Osmond said: “Like many communities from east and west and up and down the country, Eden is a town that relies heavily on the tourism sector and its substantial flow-on impacts.
“Tourism runs right through the veins of a place like Eden, from supporting local jobs in bustling cafes and small businesses selling fresh local produce, to operators offering everything from nature walks and lighthouse tours to first-class whale-watching and scuba diving.
“Australian tourism is back in business and I encourage Australians to visit www.australia.com and book their next Australian trip whether it’s to the outback, to the beach, or anywhere in between.”
Find out more about visiting Eden
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