FROM PAGE 1 Martin said the strong performance was partly because the domestic tourism market had recovered, and largely -because Tasmania was the "flavour of the month". 
Mr Martin said the council's board meeting on Friday was a roundtable of optimism.
He said all the large tourism operators were looking to significant growth this summer.
"The numbers are through the roof," Mr Martin said.
"Every single operator was talking about double-digit projected growth." He said the rise in growth reflected an upturn in the domestic tourism market across Australia, but Tasmania was ahead of the pack.
"We are way ahead of the rest, no other destination is doing as well," Mr Martin said.
He said improved access to the island was also helping the boom, including the extra sailings on the Spirit of Tasmania.
Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding said Tasmanians and tourists alike were queuing up to travel on the new-look Spirit of Tasmania ferries after their recent refurbishments.
"The refurbishments, which have dramatically improved the day sailing experience, have captured the imagination of travellers from home and inter-state," Mr Hidding said.
In the week ending   November 1, the TT-Line booked 13,360 passengers for travel on the Spirits this year and -beyond.
The stampede of bookings was 41 per cent ahead of the company's average weekly booking of 9450 since   July.
The 13,360 bookings taken in a single week represents the most taken since   June 2010, when the company booked 13,549 passengers. Bookings declined after mid-2010 as the global financial crisis hit the domestic tourism market.
In the previous week, ending   October 25, bookings were 11,151 - also the highest since 2010.
"Only a fortnight ago we were able to announce that due to a massive 17 per cent -increase in forward bookings for travel in   November through   January, TT-Line has added an extra 16 day sailings," Mr Hidding said.The increase has brought the total number of scheduled day sailings to 121 for the financial year - a 50 per cent -increase on 2013-14, only two years ago.