Spirit of Tasmania ferries get makeover

Tasmania's new state government will refurbish the Spirit of Tasmania ferries rather than add new freight vessels to the fleet.

Will Hodgman's Liberals have scrapped a proposal to buy an extra two boats, instead opting to spend more than $10 million on upgrading passenger facilities on the two current ferries.

The previous Labor-Green government had been considering a proposal to buy two freight-only boats to ply Bass Strait.

Mr Hodgman said the decision delivered on an election promise to boost the number of tourists using the Spirit service, a figure he forecast could be 120,000 a year during the campaign.

"The TT-Line (Spirit operator) will have a renewed focus on passengers and tourists under decisions taken by the Liberal government," the premier said in a statement.

Mr Hodgman said the move would also help the government deliver on a pledge to cut prices on the ferries by 20 per cent.

State-owned TT-Line will be required to factor in the need to boost tourist numbers into its pricing under the new government.

But the state opposition accused the government of abandoning its pricing pledge.

"The 20 per cent promise has been pushed back years," shadow treasurer Scott Bacon said.

"There's no timeline around when Tasmanians and potential visitors can expect to save a single cent on a trip across Bass Strait."

AAP dpb/sc