The departure of the passenger liner Viking Sun yesterday afternoon marked the end of another successful cruise ship season in Fremantle.
Viking Sun's stopover was the last of 35 cruise ship calls in Fremantle this summer, with a number of ships visiting the port for the first time.
The City of Fremantle offers a number of services to cruise ship passengers through the Fremantle Visitor Centre, including a tour booking service at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal and a free shuttle bus from the terminal to Kings Square.
The Visitor Centre also sets up an eye-catching blue marquee in Kings Square, with local tourism ambassadors on hand to welcome passengers and offer advice and information.
The volunteer tourism ambassadors also roam the streets on their distinctive red and blue trikes.
Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said cruise ships made a valuable contribution to the local economy.
"The value of the cruise ship industry to Fremantle is estimated to be around $238 million per annum, with around 88,000 passengers visiting the port each year," Mayor Pettitt said.
"With our fantastic heritage attractions like the Fremantle Prison and the Round House, a vibrant art and culture scene and an eclectic mix of shops, bars and restaurants Fremantle has a lot to offer visitors.
"I'm pleased the City has been able to work the Fremantle Ports, Chamber of Commerce and others to enhance the passenger experience at the terminal.
"I look forward to working closely with the state government as part of the Victoria Quay Working Group to progress the plans to improve the connectivity between the port and the city centre and to transform Victoria Quay into a world class waterfront precinct."
The heritage-listed Fremantle Passenger Terminal recently underwent a $3.25 million upgrade, which included repainting the exterior of the building and the refurbishment of the interior.
An independent report commissioned by the City of Fremantle in 2016 identified the development of the South Quay precinct would generate 3700 new jobs, attract private investment of $3.5 billion and return almost $1 billion to the state over 20 years.
Next cruise ship scheduled to arrive in Fremantle is Sea Princess on 20 October.
Princess Cruises will homeport Sea Princess in Fremantle for a record 141 days over the 2019/20 cruising season.
