After more than 15 years working in tourism in Europe and Australia, inbound tourism specialist Karin Ohman teamed up with business partner James Coughlan in 2023 to launch Shorex Australia.
The Australian company has thrived amid growing demand for cruising in this region. It works with tourism operators, attractions and destinations around Australia to create tailored shore excursion programs for cruise lines, as well as pre-cruise and post-cruise touring options.
More than a million Australians cruise each year and hundreds of thousands of overseas visitors come to this part of the world to cruise, which generates billions of dollars for local destinations.
Karin Ohman
Co-founder and General Manager, Shorex Australia
“Cruising has been the foundation of our success, not just for our own company but for the huge number of other businesses we work with nationally.”
Shorex Australia delivers shore excursions in approximately 20 ports across Australia, working in partnership with more than 200 local suppliers.
Each year, the company arranges pre-cruise, post-cruise or overland programs for more than 4,000 guests, visiting destinations such as Uluru, Port Douglas and Kununurra. These programs generate valuable opportunities for operators, suppliers and hotels in regions that are not traditionally major cruise destinations.
Cruise benefits extend far beyond the port.
Shorex Australia also books more than 4,000 hotel room nights for cruise visitors in Sydney each year, delivering significant business to the local accommodation sector.
Its team is located across Australia, creating full-time employment opportunities in both major cities and regional communities, including Sydney, Brisbane, Airlie Beach and Cairns.