Cruise ships visit Kangaroo Island for the last 15 years, reaching a peak during season 2018-2019 of 28 vessels.
With a projected growth of 20%, the island can expect more vessels to visit Penneshaw in the coming years, according to the newly established Tourism Food Wine and Beverage Association.
Tourism Kangaroo Island partnered with Kangaroo Island Council and the office of Commissioner for Kangaroo Island in searching to better understand the impacts of cruise visitation on the island. The project was planned a number of months ago and is currently in the implementation phase.
Jeanette Gellard, a local consultant from Innovative Influences, was engaged to collect industry, local community, and key stakeholders' feedback on lessons learned and cruise season experiences.
According to Chairman of Tourism Food Wine and Beverage Association, Pierre Gregor, there was "considerable rhetoric and some misinformation generated around cruise ship visitation." Together with the forecast increase in visitation, this supported the timeliness of the study.