| 40,000 messages beg for cruise restart

AUSTRALIAN politicians must now be fully aware of the grass-roots push for a cruise restart, with more than 40,000 emails sent to state and federal MPs as part of the Ready, Set, Sail campaign launched by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia (CW 12 May).

CLIA MD Joel Katz said the response to the campaign, which had targeted travel agents, industry stakeholders and other members of Australia’s extensive cruise community, had been beyond expectations.

“Australia has always been one of the world’s most passionate cruise markets, and the number of supporters who have joined our campaign is a sign of that passion,” he said.

“It’s also a reflection of the many thousands of people whose livelihoods have been jeopardised by the suspension of cruising, which ordinarily supports more than 18,000 jobs around the country,” Katz added.

He said many supporters had received replies from their MPs, indicating that the messages were being heard – despite last week’s disappointing extension of the cruise ban with no indication of a way forward (CW 11 Jun).

“There can no longer be any doubt about how extensive the Australian cruise community is, so we will work hard to maintain the momentum and ensure MPs know how important cruising is to the Australian economy,” he said.

Katz said CLIA and its cruise line members continued to undertake ongoing discussions with governments across the country, calling for agreement upon a detailed framework for cruising’s resumption – backed by the industry’s extensive new global health protocols which are driving successful restarts in many other markets.

The CLIA Australia MD said the industry was pushing for the implementation of these protocols as part of a phased resumption which begins with domestic cruising for Australians, within a domestic bubble.

Mainstream media also appears to be getting the message, with a report on the Channel 7 news last night also referencing strong support from the cruising community for CLIA’s restart push.