14/05/2020
A great initiative for Tasmanias tourism recovery......self drive, long stay, disperse to regions, travel in comfort and safety of own car.....its a win win from us!
‘Free’ Spirit to Relaunch our Visitor Economy
Media Release
Friday, 15 May 2020
Tasmania’s peak tourism industry organisation is urging the Federal Government to consider extending the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme (BSPVES) to effectively make it free to take your vehicle across Bass Strait, to efficiently kick start our tourism industry.
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania (TICT) CEO Luke Martin, said once border restrictions were lifted, Tasmania needed pragmatic and fast strategies to stimulate visitor demand, and maximising the use of the Spirit of Tasmania ships was the obvious opportunity.
‘The BSPVES was introduced by John Howard in 1996 with the intent to ensure the cost of taking your vehicle across Bass Strait was the equivalent to driving the same distance on the national highway network on the mainland, Mr Martin said.
‘The Scheme underpins the success of the Spirit of Tasmania service, by effectively reducing the cost of passage for vehicles across Bass Strait. Tourists to Tasmania who bring their car generally stay longer, spend more and disperse further across Regional Tasmania – they are the visitors we most need to get back. Fast.
‘There is currently a $100 gap between the value of the scheme and the true cost of taking your vehicle on the Spirit of Tasmania, which is passed-on to travellers through their ticket price.
‘Our proposal is that the scheme be temporarily increased to cover the full cost of taking your vehicle across Bass Strait, essentially making it free to take your vehicle across Bass Strait.
‘Passengers would still pay for their ‘above deck’ costs, such as their cabin, or seat, just as they do now, but the vehicle component of their passage would be covered.
‘Clearly, just the reaction to the idea overnight on social media shows how effective such a proposal would be in stimulating interest in travelling across Bass Strait.
‘In what will be a very price sensitive market every saving will be well received by our potential visitors – and the BSPVES is a proven winner for Tasmania.
‘It’s also good economics – visitors who come to Tasmania spends on average $2,400 in our local economy. In our most regional parts of the State, they are worth their weight in gold.
‘In the scheme of the economic stimulus measures likely to be pursued over coming months and years, we think this is a no brainer, and we’re pleased to see the positive response from both State and Federal Governments.’
