International cruise ships are set to return to regional WA for the first time since the start of the pandemic when the state's restrictions lift on October 1.
Southern Ports, which controls Bunbury, Albany and Esperance ports, has bookings from October, including the Queen Elizabeth, which will bring 2,000 visitors.
Southern Ports chief executive Steve Lewis said it was an exciting time.
"October 30 we've got our first vessel booked in … and we've got 12 cruise ships booked in for the season between October and March," he said.
"[The ports are] all ready for them to come … I think everyone's pretty excited about seeing white-line vessels back in the port."
Mr Lewis said the return of the industry would be hugely beneficial for Albany in particular.
"I'm sure the community in Albany will be pleased to see that trade coming back into the town," he said.
"It's an economic driver for the town, and the people visiting Albany by cruise either tell other people about their trip to Albany … or actually go to the effort of making a visit to Albany again at some point and hopefully deciding one day to come and live here."
He said the booking numbers showed how eager tourists were to return to WA's south coast.
"I think it's great news that we've got 12 booked in and I think before COVID that year we had 16 booked in, so it just shows you how quickly Albany has come back on the radar as one of the most popular destinations for cruising."
'They'll be clean as a whistle'
The arrival of 12 ships to Albany from October to March will be a boon for regional tourism, according to Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington.
"I think it's something to look forward to — it's getting back to where were before and part and parcel of what we do," he said.
He said cruise ship visits had a lasting affect on Albany businesses and the long-term growth of the city.
"When people come here by ship they're only here for about half a day, but they have a look around and think, 'Well this is a good place to come back to' and they come back for a second year," he said.
"That's the best part about it … the advertising we get for people to come down here."
Despite concerns over rising COVID cases across the country and following the outbreak aboard the Coral Princess currently docked in Sydney, Mr Wellington is confident that the return of the cruise ships will not bring added risk to the community.
"They'll be so stringent, they'll be clean as a whistle," he said.
"These days everyone is very diligent about what they do.
"I think they'll be even more diligent, bearing in mind the problems they've had in the past
