Three organisations have re-committed to supporting cruise ship tourism in the Bega Valley. Photo: Port Authority of NSW.
Three bodies have renewed their partnership to help the South Coast’s cruise industry sail to new heights.
The next cruise season will start on 16 October, as the Silver Nova pulls alongside Eden Cruise Wharf – the first of dozens to dock on the South Coast.
As the region prepares for the 20th anniversary of cruise visitation to Eden, Bega Valley Shire Council (BVSC) recently signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The agreement, with Eden Tourism Inc and Port Authority NSW, is in support of the industry.
Port Authority of NSW Chief Executive Officer John McKenna said the partnership with BVSC would be key in unlocking regional tourism opportunities.
“This renewed partnership with Bega Valley Shire Council reflects Port Authority’s commitment to enabling safe, sustainable, and commercially vibrant port operations in the Sapphire Coast region and across NSW,” he said.
“We are grateful for the support of Bega Valley Shire Council. Together, we’re supporting regional destinations like Eden to support local communities, drive economic opportunity, and deliver long-term value through sustainable cruise development.”
This new MoU will see ongoing discussions between the three parties on how they can best support the industry, including long-term planning and management.
It will run for a three-year period, finishing in late 2028.
BVSC will contribute $20,000 to Eden Tourism (alongside the Port Authority), to support the organisation in supporting Eden’s cruise industry and to employ a cruise coordinator.
Under the previous MoU, that payment was $15,000. This payment will now be indexed going forward.
“The coordinator’s responsibilities … include management of stakeholder engagement, volunteer coordination, coordination of markets and Taste of Eden festivals,” council’s meeting agenda said.
“The modest proposed increase in the contribution, and indexation over the life of the MoU recognises increased costs borne by Eden Tourism Inc.”
During a recent council meeting, councillors unanimously voted to lobby Destination NSW for an equivalent financial commitment to the MoU.
The Coral Princess, which arrived in Eden in 2022, is one of dozens of ships to stop by the area. Photo: Cruise Eden Facebook.
Council will also make sure public toilets are serviced and that waste is removed from council-managed bins.
It will also facilitate temporary shuttle bus stop zones at key sites in Eden on ship days for visitors, if necessary.
During the recent meeting, Councillor Clair Mudaliar thanked local tourism workers for their efforts.
“The cruise industry in Eden brings in a huge economic benefit, not just to the town but to the entire shire,” she said.
“It’s heavily led and staffed by [a] volunteer workforce … a huge volunteer effort’s gone into it.”
According to council documents, 40 cruise ships visited Eden in the 2023/24 season. Out of their 62,211 passengers, 46,406 disembarked to explore Eden and the surrounding area.
In the 2024/25 season, 25 ships visited Eden with more than 45,000 passengers, while that number is expected to rise to 35 in 2025/26, and then 39 in 26/27.
Port Authority of NSW General Manager of Cruise, Martin Bidgood said the cruise industry had a range of benefits for communities.
“Cruise visitation delivers tangible economic benefits to regional communities including fuelling jobs growth for small businesses, generating employment across hospitality, retail, and transport sectors, and increasing demand for locally sourced goods and services.
“This is why Port Authority is proud to play a leading role in strengthening the cruise industry’s presence in regional destinations like Eden, helping them to unlock new opportunities for coastal communities.”
