The recent $31.5 million refurbishment of the two Spirit of Tasmania vessels has again been hailed a huge success, with 40,000 more travellers using the ferry service in the last 12 months than did so in the preceding 12 months.
And, with forward bookings for the Spirits also up by 15%, the Tasmanian Government is eager to tout the benefits the extra tourist numbers will deliver for the Apple Isle, particularly the regional areas.
“It is clear we are giving travellers what they want, particularly the grey nomads,” Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding told the Mercury newspaper. “Visitors who arrive by sea spend more time travelling around Tasmania, staying an average of 17 nights compared to seven nights for those arriving by air.”
Mr Hidding said with average expenditure at $195 a night, the longer stays meant significantly more money for urban hotels, rural pubs and regional attractions.
As well as the refurbishments, TT-Line has also increased the number of Spirit of Tasmania day sailings from 82 to 121. Passenger bookings on day sailings had increased by 50% on the previous year and 80% on two years ago.
The Tasmanian government has a target of attracting 1.5 million visitors a year to the state by 2020.
* Have refurbished ferries and more day sailings been enough to tempt you across the Bass Strait this summer? Are you glad you decided to stretch the budget to get to the Apple Isle? Comment below.
Looking forward to next years prices, we are planning on next Feb 2016
If they made it more affordable to put your van on the ferry they would attract even more.
Perhaps if TT could offer special (cheaper) prices for Grey Nomads’ vans we would visit Tassie more often. Tis a gorgeous place to spend some time (and money).
TT line will never lower their prices to entice more people to visit Tasmania, they are controlled by Unions who demand their members enjoy huge wages for travelling between Devonport and Melbourne. In addition, the “improvements” on the ferries are superficial, with major items, like he sheets on the beds still being too small. My caravan is now stored on the mainland saving me $800-$1000 every year. My main reason for writing this is that the vast majority of Grey Nomads not opting to visit our beautiful island is the exorbitant cost of getting their vans to and from Tassie.
hi all. a trip to Tassie is a trip I really enjoyed and would go again no worries.
as far as pay goes they get paid the going rate
why is it workers like to bash others trying to make a go of life
I wonder wat pay and conditions these jokers have or have had in there working life
tony and his cohorts would love it
enjoy life
Going over in Feb day trip back in April with cabin overnight 2 adults 7 metre motorhome just over $600 return. No pension discounts. I don’t think that is way over the top especially when Tassie has so many low cost/free overnight areas. Still the best most compact place to visit in Australia
$600 return ? quoted approx. $1700 two adults 4.5 mtr. caravan 4wd drive in a cabin .Who do you know ?
I was also quoted $1700 return
I have just been looking on the web page, there is a very big discrepancy between a 4wd towing a van and just a 4wd, just wondering if Philby has been quoted for the 4wd instead of a motorhome. What he has been quoted doesn’t really fit with what I found. We are hoping to go down there next year, hence my interest