The ongoing delays to the arrival of the new Spirit of Tasmania ferries and the construction of a suitable berth for them at Devonport has thrown the tourism industry on the Apple Isle into chaos, according to industry chiefs.
And the lack of expected traveller numbers has even forced one major caravan park to temporarily shut down.
Tourism leaders told the Pulse Tasmania publication they were completely blindsided by the ferry crisis and only learnt about it at the same time as the general public.
Speaking before the Public Accounts Committee yesterday, Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania (TICT) CEO Amy Hills, said there was no advance warning before news of the delays broke.
The new TT-Line boat Spirit of Tasmania IV. PIC: Rauma Marine Constructions
“I was becoming aware of it at the same time that everyone else was becoming aware of it, essentially,” she told Pulse Tasmania. “As things were playing out through Parliament, I was hearing that at the same time as everyone else.”
The hearing is examining the impacts on the tourism sector from the delayed delivery of new vessels and the required berth infrastructure at Devonport that has pushed the project back to at least October 2026.
According to Pulse Tasmania, TICT board director Daniel Leesong told the committee that many simply assumed the berth works were already underway.
“Most people would probably not even understand the level of infrastructure needed to bring a project on, so it went through to the keeper,” he said. “There was no hint, at least from my knowledge and the discussions I had as an industry participant and also as others talking to me, that there were significant headwinds afoot.”
And the delays have certainly had a significant knock-on effect to the tourism industry in Tasmania.
Gavin Imlach, who runs the Latrobe Mersey River Caravan Park, told Pulse Tasmania that the value of his business has halved due to the ferry crisis, forcing him to shelve retirement plans and temporarily shut down.
He told the publication he had spent $150,000 upgrading his site in anticipation of a promised 40% tourism boost from the new ferries, which are now several years behind schedule.
“Since the s–t show with the ships, my business is worth half of what it was prior to the fiasco,” Imlach told reporters. “It’s a disaster.”
Mr Imlach said he had received no direct updates about ferry delays, and had noticed a complete absence of mainland visitors last Christmas.
“During November to December, my caravan park was devoid of foreign number plates,” he said. “We didn’t have any mainland visitors.”
Labor leader Dean Winter said the government had failed tourism operators across the state.
“The whole state was awash with a message from the government to get ready for our new Spirits,” Winter said. “Businesses like Gavin’s were making the investments because they were told to …. there were preparations underway by everyone except for one organisation – the Tasmanian Liberal government.”
Pulse Tasmania said that, according to ferry operator TT-Line, 2,500 caravans and 1,400 motorhomes arrived via the ships in November and December last year.
Transport Minister Eric Abetz said the ferry project was now ‘back on track’ following government intervention and the appointment of new leadership at TT-Line.
It is reported that, despite ongoing challenges, tourism representatives still remain cautiously optimistic about the long-term outlook once the new ferries arrive.
The new Spirit of Tasmania ships are longer, wider and taller than their predecessors. The new ships will increase the annual passenger capacity on the Bass Strait route by almost 30%, the lane metres for passenger cars and freight by 60%, and the cabin capacity by approximately 35%, while the environmental impact of shipping will be significantly reduced.
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Why don’t they do a temporary 2 year Sydney or Melbourne to Auckland with the ferries until the berthing fiasco is fixed. I am sure many travellers would welcome taking their caravans to NZ during that time frame.
Would help pay for the cost of the ferries and make people happy they can travel…
the cost of taking your van to NZ would be to much look how much they charge to Tasmania
Ferries are set up for short runs 10-12 hours not 3-4 days Geelong to Auckland. Don’t fancy sitting in an airline chair for 3.5 days.
We were in Tassie in jan/feb. There were plenty of interstate travellers,, maybe his prices were too high like most of the van parks there and the amenities were pretty average.
We thought that there were many things in Tassie that were tired & run down.
We wouldn’t bother going a second time.
I’m thinking the same. We were there last year and it was virtually dead
Ferry charges for travellers’ are also way too high .The exorbitant price of car caravan combination or motorhome has also gone up so much too, by the time you pay the cost of those vehicles and your own travel cost for 2 people it’s a costly expense I’ve been told $3K on average. We don’t have that lying about . In these economic times this would also be deterrant for people going to Tassie. There is also the pensioner problem of being below the poverty line now and funds are not available in advance for many . So I think it’s a culmination of things that is deterring travel to Tassie. Please correct me if I’m wrong .
“During November to December, my caravan park was devoid of foreign number plates,” he said. “We didn’t have any mainland visitors.””
Typical BS from a caravan park owner. Don’t they realise how pathetic it makes them appear.
Why does the tourism body complain that they were only advised “at the same time” as the general public. That seems an expectation of preferential treatment and potential “insider trading” by that and other bodies.
Can spend my money better on the mainland. Another option is take a cheap flight and a hire car. Do a couple of air bnb’s.
I would question the validity of his claims?, perhaps he should supply his profit and loss statements… we live in Latrobe and have witnessed the CP being well patronised all summer. It also shuts for the winter every year. There is a lot more mainlanders in Vans than there was three years ago you only have to witness the number in lots of campgrounds/parks. Perhaps there is more to this story as they say there is always two sides
It’s sad that we cannot get things right.
They quite often close for the winter season, don’t know what there on about free advertising I guess