The Hunter Valley's tourism industry faces a setback as a second Viking cruise ship, the Orion, has canceled its scheduled visit to Newcastle due to safety concerns over an anti-coal protest. This cancellation comes amidst the Rising Tide group's planned People's Blockade event, which aims to disrupt coal shipping. The protest, scheduled for November 29th and 30th, has sparked a debate on the impact on local businesses and the cruise industry. While Rising Tide assures it will only target coal ships, Viking Cruises, citing potential disruptions, decided to cancel the visit, causing financial losses for the region's tourism sector. The protest's potential to affect tourism has led to a letter from a local businessman, Trevor Richards, demanding compensation for the losses his businesses will incur. Rising Tide's spokesperson, Zack Schofield, argues that the group's focus is on protesting the coal industry and denies any intention to disrupt cruise liners. However, the Port of Newcastle's executive manager, Lucas Coleman, highlights the group's past actions, such as vandalizing a vessel, and questions the reliability of their assurances. The situation raises questions about the balance between environmental activism and economic impact, leaving the community divided on the appropriate course of action.
