New tourism statistics show that Tasmania has had a ‘bumper’ summer tourism season … at least in comparison to recent ‘lean’ years.
More than a million people arrived in the state by air or sea in 2013 – up 14% statewide.
According to the latest visitor survey, the north and the east of the island state fared particularly well compared with the same time the previous year. Between October and December, tourist numbers jumped 51% on the east coast, and 21% in the north.
Tourism chiefs say the extra flights have been put on from Melbourne and Sydney to Tassie have been the key to the increase.
While anecdotal evidence suggests Tasmania has been shunned by many grey nomads because of what are seen by some as excessive costs to cross the Bass Strait, it is hoped that lower winter Spirit of Tasmania fares will see the good times keep rolling.
Tasmania’s new government has made reduced ferry fares a key part of its plan to dramatically boost tourism. It also intends to make Tourism Tasmania a stand-alone agency and encourage development in national parks, possibly including some World Heritage areas.
However, as Tasmania’s notoriously chilly weather begins to bite, there is concern that a lack of winter events, particularly in July, means grey nomads and other visitors will be less inclined to hop on a boat.
“The winter will be a cold winter but it shouldn’t be any worse than last year,” Tourism Northern Tasmania chief executive Chris Griffin told the Examiner newspaper. “For us to be growing at the same rate or more is really, really healthy and really promising. There’s been some very tough years in tourism.”
Are you eagerly waiting to see what happens with ‘Spirit’ fares? How important are ‘events’ to you as you plan your Big Lap route? Comment below.
we would go for at least a month next year 2015 if the ferry fare price for our van & car is right
Even with specials on, when you input your length & height on the booking website the price seems to go out of this world, this is why we wont ever be going to tassie, what a rip off
We planned to go a few years ago when fares were “$75” per car, but with drip pricing it was over $2000 for the 3 of us, so we went to NT instead. I have been dreading how much the motorhome will be, especially as the cabins cost heaps when we could be comfy in our home on wheels if they allowed it. We will stay quite a while when we do get there, as it will be the only time we can afford to go.
If the price of the ferry goes down I will defiantly be heading down to tassie with the van. But so far it’s to expensive .
I usually stay away from “events” as that usually means crowds, and I am not a crowd person. The reason I haven’t been to Tassie yet is the amount of travel and fun I can have on the mainland for the price of the “Spirit” fare to get car, caravan and us over Bass Strait and back.
just go stuff the $ one of the best places I’ve ever been.me and son went feb2013. well worth it I/we say. only had a month I hope to go again for a lot longer next time. Easy to get about the folk were great also.. u r a long time dead so.. enjoy
I’m heading to Tasmania in August, mainly on the change of Government, hopefully things will change from the past experiences with Caravan park owners feeling they have an entitlement to protection from competition, I like to Bush camp and Tasmania has always been good for that in the past but if attitudes to freedom camping don’t change then it will be my last trip, I’ve been coming to Tasmania at least once a year for the last 20 years and even though I’ve mainly bush camped, I’ve spent a lot of money over the years, I always stay a month at least and often up to 3-4 months, hopefully I’ll feel welcomed and will keep returning for many years to come. Kevin.
Tassie is on our bucket list, but at the price of the ferry for our tow and 22ft van, it is well above our budget. I note that the above article was more concerned with air travel then us grey nomads.
We estimate that a 3 month trip would cost us somewhere around $10000 ex Brisbane by van. Tassie, it is now up to you to make the package attractive enough to get me to your island. Otherwise it will be Perth or Darwin etc etc that will benefit from our travels.
Yep, too expensive to take 4wd and 22ft van on ferry. For similar cost of deisel I can be well into Qld, West or the Territory.
would be a big help if they lower the boat fares when pulling a caravan
We are in Tasmania currently – we planned to stay and bush camp (as much as we could) for a few months as we knew we couldn’t afford the cost of the ferry for a car and 24ft van again. We have been here since October and leave early May and have had an absolutely wonderful time. The real highlight of the trip has been the people – love their friendliness and helpfulness.
Personally I have no faith in Tourism Northern Tasmanian nor Giant Bikes after the fiasco that was their recent competition.