The Copper Coast is preparing to welcome its first cruise ship since 2019 with the luxury Seabourn Quest.
The ship is set to dock in the South Australian Town of Wallaroo in March 2027, which has long awaited the return of cruise ships.
Wallaroo businesses welcome the announcement but are still awaiting further details. The town is home to 4,000 people, and the cruise ships stopping by in 2019 were a much-needed economic injection.
“This is fantastic news for the Copper Coast. The arrival of Seabourn Quest will bring a significant influx of visitors, boosting local businesses, creating opportunities, and showcasing our beautiful region to an international audience,” Copper Coast mayor Roslyn Talbot said.
“Just as with previous visits, Council anticipate a substantial positive impact on our local economy.”
After cruises stopped docking in the town and the pandemic ended, the South Australian Government said the 2023-24 cruise season was the state’s most successful yet.
According to a report commissioned by the Cruise Lines International Association and the Australian Cruise Association, it injected A$227 million into the South Australian economy.
Copper Coast Council chief executive officer Dylan Strong said the Copper Coast was "keen to get their slice of that".
The Seabourn Quest’s 2027 stopover in Wallaroo is estimated to inject A$96.638 into the Yorke and Mid North economy, according to a report compiled by Regional Development Australia.
"We've got the economic impact, but from a high-level perspective, it does put and keep Wallaroo, the Copper Coast, and indeed the Yorke Peninsula on the map," Strong said.
State tourism minister Zoe Bettison said it was “a day to celebrate”, stating that Wallaroo is an ideal destination for a cruise.
“We are working to expand the number of South Australian destinations for a wide range of cruise lines across the world – just like the luxury Seabourn Quest – to bring dollars into the local economy and showcase why our State is a destination worth returning to,” Bettison said.
