A booming Asia market has Australia reaping dividends in terms of seasonal deployment, according to Cruise Down Under, a regional association serving cruise lines, ports and suppliers in the Australian market.

At the same time, the domestic market in Australia is continuing to grow, and regions are responding by building more port infrastructure and anchorages, according to Jill Abel, CEO of CDU. She pointed to new destination examples such as Mornington, Port Lincoln and Busselton.

“With these regional ports and others being included for the first time in itineraries, the cruising options, for both international and domestic passengers, have hit an all-time high in our region,” said Abel.

The organization continues to roll out training workshops for state and regional tourism stakeholders to help develop the shoreside product to meet both passenger demands and cruise line expectations.