Call for free Tasmania ferry crossing
Proposal for full taxpayer funded Bass Strait caravan transport to help struggling Tasmanian businessesCaravanning Tasmania is calling for more government subsidies to reduce the cost of taking a vehicle across Bass Strait and entice more mainland travelers to visit Tasmania.
The peak body for the Tasmanian caravanning industry said that the Federal Government should consider extending the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme by providing free travel for cars and caravans to support struggling local operators.
The Bass Strait Vehicle Equalisation Scheme was introduced in 1996 to “to reduce the cost of sea travel across Bass Strait for passengers accompanied by an eligible vehicle”.
Under the scheme, passengers travelling with a vehicle across Bass Strait can receive a rebate applied against the vehicle fare charged by the operator.
One-way rebates are currently $239 for a car, $123 for a motorbike, $29 for a bicycle and up to $480 for an eligible motorhome or tow vehicle/caravan.
Caravanning Tasmania President Bronwyn Wild noted that many operators were still struggling to recover out of COVID and had not experienced the post-lockdown tourism ‘bounce’ seen in other caravanning markets.
“With the aggressive push by other state marketing agencies to attract Victorians, Tasmania is missing out on the price sensitive market with fares on the Spirit of Tasmania a strong impediment as Australians look to domestic holiday options as they come out of lockdown,” Wild said.
She said “summer bookings remain soft across the state, and some urgent intervention needs to occur to give the necessary stimulus for interstate visitation to return.”
“If something doesn’t happen soon, Christmas caravanning travel will be lost to other states, resulting in millions of lost spending for the Tasmanian economy,” Ms Wild said.
Recent data released by Caravan Industry Association of Australia regarding November caravan park accommodation shows Tasmania is the worst performing caravanning destination for the month; down 40 per cent year-on-year.
CIAA CEO Stuart Lamont backed calls to boost the scheme, arguing that millions of taxpayer dollars saved when road-going holidays to Tasmania were put on hold during the pandemic, should be used to further reduce the cost of the ferry crossing.
“The Passenger Equilisation Scheme is meant to normalize the costs of travelling on the water as if it was part of the road network, with the Government saving millions of dollars as Bass Strait has been largely closed during COVID with border closures between Victoria and Tasmania,” he said.
“The Government must act quickly to save Christmas for many local caravan park operators who are already struggling to survive and whose pipeline bookings are much softer than they should be for this time of year.”
Related:
Is the Spirit of Tasmania worth it?
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