Cruise ships booost for Weymouth and Portland (From Dorset Echo)

Cruise ships booost for Weymouth and Portland

8:00am Thursday 2nd September 2010 in

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Weymouth College tourism students and Portland Harbour Authority worked together to give a summertime boost to the borough’s economy.

Around 3,000 European and US passengers docked between July and August on the inaugural visits of the British vessel Ocean Countess, the US passenger ship Insignia and Dutch-American Westerdam.

They spent an average of 57 Euros per head in Weymouth, according to the Harbour Traders’ Association.

The cruise liners were welcomed by the town crier as well as Portland’s mayor and mayoress.

Passengers were then sold excursions to tourist spots, including Corfe Castle, Athelhampton House, Abbotsbury Gardens, Minterne Gardens and the Cerne Abbas Giant.

Passengers who opted to visit Weymouth Harbour took advantage of a courtesy bus operated by Portland Harbour Authority, dropping off at Portland Castle and Brewers Quay.

The departing ships were given a farewell by either Weymouth Brass Band or Portland Sea Cadets, along with a three-gun salute by the Nothe Fort Artillery volunteers.

A further 2,800 cruise visitors are set to visit the region, courtesy of Portland Harbour Authority – bringing the number of tourists the port has attracted to just under 10,000 this year.

The chairman of the Harbour Traders’ Association and Brewers Quay director Roger Dalton said: “If we show we are prepared to go the extra mile to welcome tourists we all will reap the rewards.

“There’s been a dramatic increase in the number of cruise ships over the past year and the spend per head is much higher than the average visitor so there is a double benefit for our members.”

Weymouth College tourism tutor Sarah Lawrence said: “The students do a 15-week cruise module as part of the two-year BTEC national diploma in travel and tourism.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for the college and the students to get the chance to learn on the job.

“They go on board the cruise ships and promote the best that Weymouth has to offer to the passengers.”

Portland Harbour Authority’s commercial manager, Ian McQuade, said: “Cruise operators are increasingly choosing us because the region offers their passengers so much – history, nature and the charm of Dorset life.”