By Joel Katz, Managing Director, CLIA Australasia
AUSTRALIA’S cruise community has overcome enormous barriers in the past, by raising a united voice in support of an industry worth more than $5.6 billion a year to the national economy.
CLIA’s travel agent members and other cruise supporters around the country have proved incredibly effective when it comes to showing the human face of cruising, speaking up for the many thousands of Australians who depend on cruise tourism for their livelihoods.
As we work to secure a better future for cruising, your voices will again be vital to support CLIA’s advocacy work in Canberra and among our state governments.
Despite strong demand from cruise passengers and the tireless work of our travel trade community, recent announcements from cruise lines have shown there are big challenges facing our industry in this part of the world.
High operating costs and regulatory uncertainty deter new ship deployments and strain existing operations. The season ahead is likely to bring similar capacity to the summer just gone, but future seasons aren’t so certain and we’re likely to see fewer ships in local waters because of the difficulties in operating in this region.
To maintain Australia’s appeal as a cruise destination, CLIA and our cruise lines are advocating to state and federal governments across Australia and New Zealand for more supportive policies.
These include calls for competitive cost structures, streamlined regulation and longer-term certainty around the laws that govern maritime operations.
Travel agents and tourism stakeholders play a crucial role in this advocacy. Your voices are powerful in driving change. Write to your state and federal MPs, speak to local media, and highlight the importance of a vibrant cruise industry for jobs and local economies.
Your efforts that can help secure a sustainable future for cruising in Australia. By joining forces, we can push for the necessary regulatory certainty and ensure we remain a top choice for cruise lines.
