JOEL Katz, Managing Director CLIA Australasia
#WeAreCruise shows the importance of our industry
The cruise industry has made huge progress in laying new foundations for our future, committing to extensive new measures that will uphold safety in response to COVID-19.
But as we work with governments to address the complex issues involved, it’s also important to show our leaders that cruising extends far beyond our ships and the destinations we visit.
This spring, CLIA Australasia launched a new campaign to highlight the many other businesses that make up our wider cruise community, and the impact they’ve suffered as a result of the global shutdown.
Rolled out online with an initial series of four videos, the #WeAreCruise campaign tells the stories of travel agents, tour operators and cruise line suppliers whose businesses have been devastated by the suspension of cruising. These businesses represent just a fraction of the 25,000 jobs across Australasia that are in jeopardy while our ships are at anchor, and they are a key reason why our $5 billion-a-year industry needs an opportunity to move forward.
While the suspension has been the right response to COVID-19, there is an urgent need to open a pathway towards resumption with extensive health measures in place, so we can bring an economic revival to businesses and communities around our region.
CLIA has been working tirelessly with governments and health authorities to make this possible, but we need help to show the true size and importance of the cruise community.
We’re encouraging travel agents and industry supporters to join our #WeAreCruise campaign. To help, we’ve created a WEBSITE with information, links to the videos, social media assets and guides on how to contact local MPs.
