Seatrade Cruise News is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Western Australia lifts gambling restrictions to be more cruise ship friendly

782241b7977106d6f384286ceac2626b_XL
WA Premier Colin Barnett said cruise lines generate A$275m for the local economy
Western Australia Premier and Tourism Minister Colin Barnett has announced that gambling on cruise ships will be permitted for intra-State cruises and those within 12 nautical miles of the WA coastline.

Barnett, who gave the opening address at the 2016 WA Tourism Conference in Perth today, said until now cruise ship gaming rooms had been forced to close travelling between West Australian ports or when they were within 12 nautical miles of the coast.

‘Cruise ships are crucial to growing the State’s tourism industry,’ he said. ‘The number of cruise ships coming to Fremantle has more than tripled since 2012-13 when 17 ships brought 49,000 passengers to the port city.’

He said 58 ships berthed at Fremantle In 2015-16, with 152,000 passengers.

‘Lifting these gaming restrictions will make the State more attractive as a destination for cruise companies, which generate more than A$275m for the local economy,’ he said.

‘Moreover, these changes aim to boost the attractiveness and viability of regional WA port destinations to cruise operators and subsequently bring more tourists to our regional towns.’