Plaque to honour Whitsundays cruise ship ambassadors

A plaque will be unveiled to celebrate 10 years of voluntary service by the region’s cruise ship ambassadors.

Whitsundays Marketing and Development Limited, previously Tourism Whitsundays which merged with Enterprise Whitsundays in 2011, is a member of Cruise Down Under and is responsible for the promotion of the destination worldwide.

It is hosting the evening on November 20 with Tourism and Events Queensland and Abell Point Marina.

WMDL executive director, Jeff Aquilina, said it is important to acknowledge the fantastic work done by the volunteers.

‘Over the past year cruise ship arrivals have grown from around a dozen to over 50 in the Whitsundays and the cruise ship industry has become a sustainable pillar of our local tourism industry, injecting millions into the local economy,’ Aquilina said.

He said the ambassadors ‘go out of their way’ to ensure passengers feel welcome, have all the information they need and are pointed in the right direction.

‘The feedback from both passengers and cruise companies is that the personal welcome and information service is a highlight that continues to make a lasting impression,’ he said.