Hobart will host the Australian Cruise Association (ACA) Conference for 2027, bringing the cruise industry’s flagship event back to Tasmania for the first time in 15 years.
As one of only five Antarctic gateway cities worldwide and an established Australian cruise destination, Hobart provides a fitting setting for the conference.
The event will give Tasmania an important platform to showcase its distinctive visitor experiences to cruise industry leaders, strengthen industry relationships and demonstrate its commitment to responsible cruise growth across the island.
The announcement comes as Tasmania implements its Four-Year Cruise Action Plan, focused on attracting higher-value itineraries, encouraging greater regional dispersal beyond Hobart, reducing environmental impacts, maintaining strong community support for cruise tourism and developing distinctly Tasmanian shore experiences.
“Hosting the Australian Cruise Conference in Hobart will be an important opportunity to showcase Tasmania to cruise industry decision makers from around Australia and key international markets,” said Sarah Kingston Clark, CEO of Tourism Tasmania.
“Hobart is an iconic Australian cruise destination, capable of hosting the largest ships, with dedicated cruise infrastructure and a long running artisan market and volunteer program that greets every passenger.”
Tasmania’s cruise sector continues to play a significant role in the state’s visitor economy, with the 2025-26 cruise season welcoming 101 ship calls and bringing more than 175,000 passengers and 77,000 crew members to the island.
Cruise visitation contributes an estimated $130 million annually to Tasmania’s economy, supporting local businesses and communities across the tourism sector.
This impact is further strengthened by the participation of approximately 100 Tasmanian tourism operators in cruise line shore excursion programs, providing visitors with a diverse range of experiences and helping to showcase the island’s unique attractions.
The conference will be held at LUMINA at The Tasman, bringing together senior cruise line executives, destination representatives, port authorities and industry suppliers from across Australia and key international markets.
Tourism Tasmania secured the successful bid in partnership with TasPorts, Business Events Tasmania, Hobart City Council and Destination Southern Tasmania.
Picture courtesy Tourism Australia
https://www.australiancruiseassociation.com/
