Bookings on the Spirit of Tasmania have surged since the recent announcement that vehicles would be allowed to travel for free for a limited period.
In the first day of free ticket availability, TT Line reports more than 6000 bookings were made … and are Tassie tourism authorities are excited.
Earlier this month, the federal government announced $6 million would be invested to expand the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme to allow a vehicle to travel for free from March 1. The initiative will be available for travel to or from Tasmania until June 30 or until the funds run out.
“It is exciting to know that level of demand exists for Tasmania, we should look at what this means for opportunities in the future,” Tom Wootton, the boss of tourism body, West by North West, told the Advocate newspaper. “If it can provide this level of success, hopefully we can consider its longevity beyond this period.”
The free vehicle fare is based on a standard car, or a campervan or motorhome less than two metres wide and up to six metres in length. Vehicles greater than two metres wide and six metres in length, such as a caravan, will receive a discount equivalent to that of a standard car.
There have been fears that the ongoing uncertainty generated by the ‘open-again, closed-again, open-again’ border restrictions merry-go-round would keep grey nomads away from the Apple Isle.
Tassie caravan park operators have been saying that visitor numbers are significantly down because mainland tourists are ‘just not willing to take the risk’ of leaving their home state, and potentially having to quarantine for weeks if they’re locked out of certain states.
However, Assistant Minister for Industry Development Jonno Duniam says the early interest in the free vehicle crossing scheme was hugely encouraging.
“This is great news for tourism, and great news for Tasmania,” he said. “It’s the kick-start that tourism in Tasmania needed for 2021.”
Caravan should be free as well
I believe they want you to tour Tassy and stay at hotels, Motels etc. not take your free accommodation with you .
Its still to expensive.
I can go a long way on having to spend that sort of money to get across even with the $250 discount.