More cruise ships are currently coming to Queensland than any other state and the cruise industry of the state has risen for the first time to estimated worth USD 500 million.
This comes almost five months after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission gave green light to planned cruise terminal upgrade of Port Brisbane.
In 2017-2018 a record 520 cruise vessels visited Queensland shores, which is an 11% year-on-year increase, bringing in around 860,000 passengers.
According to Tourism Minister Kate Jones, cruising had become global tourism industry's fastest-growing part, and Queensland - Australia's cruise capital.
Cunard's Queen Victoria is set to visit Brisbane. P&O Australia boasts a record 3 ships: Pacific Aria, Pacific Dawn and Pacific Jewel, all homeported in Brisbane.
A new $158 million cruise terminal at the mouth of Brisbane River was approved and involves a joint venture between Port of Brisbane and Carnival Cruise Line.
The plan taps into demand for mega-ships 270 metres or longer, to permanently operate from Brisbane, targeting cruises to Whitsundays, north Queensland and South Pacific.
Mega-ships are too big to berth at Portside at Hamilton and currently berth at the large grain terminal at Brisbane River mouth, that has limited facilities for cruise liners.
The project was approved by Queensland's government and is predicted to double the cruise ships' number in Brisbane, October 2017.
Ms Jones added that hundreds of millions was being spent upgrading cruise facilities in Townsville and Cairns, paving the way for even more growth state-wide.