Esperance Regional Tourism Association’s Chairman, Milton Valli, said the announcement is a major step for tourism in Esperance, ensuring up to 5,000 passengers will visit the town this season.

The cruise ships include Royal Caribbean on November 2, Athena on January 3, January 21 and February 17, 2012, The World at a date to be decided in February, and Royal Caribbean on March 8.

While all cruise ships involved will carry a number of international visitors, the Royal Caribbean and The World will have a significantly higher number of international tourists.

Mr Valli said that with the port’s assistance, transition to and from the Esperance Town Centre was made feasible and smooth during the 2010-11 cruise ship season.

“The port and ERTA as a whole made visitors from the cruise ship feel very welcome, and I think the port should be congratulated for making it easy for those visitors to get downtown.

“If we get the full six cruise ships by March next year, that’ll be the largest number Esperance has ever seen.”

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