Travel agents can use their collective voices and continuing growth in cruise sales to lobby for an end to the inertia surrounding the infrastructure logjam, Carnival Australia boss Ann Sherry says.
Speaking following the success of the second annual Cruise3sixty trade show, Sherry said she welcomed the growing awareness within the trade that their success would drive the sector’s success.
“Travel agents can play an influential role in advocating for infrastructure investment and better access to port facilities in Sydney and Brisbane in particular.”
Carnival’s local boss urged the trade to use the booming interest for cruising among their clients to ensure their federal members of parliament are aware of the economic opportunities that the sector is able to deliver.
“Travel agents possess the industry knowledge and experience to get the message out that tourism is a vital part of the national economy, particularly as it reboots for the post resources boom era.
“They can also push for specific advances such as long term access to Garden Island to allow for expansion in Sydney as the gateway to Australia,” she added.
Sherry referred to the fact that multiple ships too large to fit under the Sydney Harbour Bridge have had to be turned away from due to a lack of berthing space.
It is widely anticipated that 2015 will yield the announcement that over one million Australians took a cruise last year – a milestone Sherry says wouldn’t have happened without trade support.
