While Eden is preparing for its busiest cruise season to date, Batemans Bay is set to also become a regular port of call for tourist ships.
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The MS Caledonia Sky, arriving in Batemans Bay on Friday, will also stop in Eden on Saturday before rounding the south eastern corner of Australia for Geelong.
There’s enough room in the region for the ships at both our ports.
- Cruise Eden's Natalie Godward
Cruise Eden's Natalie Godward said Eurobodalla Council’s work with Port Authority of NSW to create a regular timetable of cruise ships visiting Batemans Bay is “100 per cent” guaranteed to help build the profile of the region.
“There’s enough room in the region for the ships at both our ports,” Ms Godward said.
Eurobodalla Council’s tourism manager Meredith Wray said Port Authority of NSW is working to attract smaller cruise ships with no more than 1100 passengers.
“The expectation is that they’ll give our economy a boost by supporting local businesses while they’re here. It also puts Batemans Bay in visitors’ minds if they plan to return to Australia, or they might recommend it to friends and family.”
She said Batemans Bay was an appealing destination for smaller cruise ships, and the closest port to Canberra.
“Some passengers will also come ashore to Batemans Bay and we encourage locals and businesses to make them feel welcome,” Dr Wray said.
“Eurobodalla Mayor Liz Innes and welcome ambassadors will meet and greet the passengers as they are ferried from the ship to the Murrah Mia jetty. They will also hand out information packs about the area.
“We’ll continue to work with the NSW Ports Authority to attract these opportunities to our shire, and we are working with the Batemans Bay Tourism and Business Chamber to identify ways to showcase Batemans Bay.”
Seventeen cruise ships are scheduled to visit Eden between October this year and April 2018.
In preparation for this year’s holiday season, Cruise Eden will be holding a pre-season information session from 5pm on Thursday, November 1 at the Eden’s Fishermen’s Club.