Today is a good news day for tourism with the Norwegian Jewel becoming the first cruise ship to visit the NSW Far South Coast port of Eden since the recent bushfires.

TTF Chief Executive Margy Osmond said that this was an important first step in rejuvenating tourism immediately following Tourism Australia’s fresh new #holidayherethisyear domestic tourism campaign, part of the Australian Government’s initial $76 million recovery package.

“Like many communities from east and west and up and down the country, Eden is a town that relies heavily on the tourism sector and its substantial flow-on impacts,” Margy Osmond said.

“Tourism runs right through the veins of a place like Eden, from supporting local jobs in bustling cafes and small businesses selling fresh local produce, to operators offering everything from nature walks and lighthouse tours to first class whale-watching and scuba diving.”

“Eden has twenty-two scheduled cruise calls this season, which have largely remained in place despite the bushfire season causing a brief shutdown and subsequent global media attention.

“The Australian cruise industry which is a critical economic driver and worth more than $5 billion a year to the national economy and helps support more than 18,000 jobs around the country.

“This visit to Eden by the Norwegian Jewel is a clear demonstration not just for the NSW Far South Coast, but for the tourism sector nationally, that we are turning the corner and bouncing back.”

“Australian tourism is back in business and I encourage Australians to visit www.australia.com and book their next Australian trip whether it’s to the outback, to the beach, or anywhere in between.”