TOURISM

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (15:04): I have a further supplementary. Can the minister explain why last year we attracted seven international cruise ships and Victoria this year has attracted 58, with 60 booked for next year?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (15:04): Again, another success story for South Australia. We have significantly increased the number of cruise ships to this state in the last couple of years—a huge growth. Not only have we increased the number of cruise ship visits to South Australia (which is an absolute credit to our Tourism Commission) but we are now having cruise ships visit our regions, as well—Robe and Port Lincoln. Again, it is growing and it is a fabulous achievement.

What is more, the successes only increase. Not only do we have that but we now have a cruise liner that uses our port as its home port. What that means is that it docks there, it exchanges hospitality, foods and suchlike, and it unloads and reloads. That has a significant economic benefit to this state, as well. Again, all the trends are in the right direction: growth in cruise ships; growth in domestic visitor rates; growth in international spending—achievements right across the board.