| CLIA seeks “tangible progress” for restart

THE approval of a pathway to the careful resumption of domestic cruising would be a key way of helping Australia’s hard-hit tourism sector, according to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

Speaking in the wake of last week’s announcement of a $1.2 billion tourism assistance package which provided support for cut-price flights, airline operations and a second round of the $128 million COVID-19 Consumer Travel Support grants program for travel agents, CLIA MD Australasia Joel Katz said while the stimulus measures were a step forward, “it provides only limited relief while little progress is made towards the resumption of cruising”.

Katz said the approval of a pathway for a cruise restart would help drive a meaningful revival in Australia’s travel and tourism economy.

He stressed the sector was not seeking any financial assistance from the Government, but just wants “the opportunity to resume business safely and for the benefit of the wider tourism economy”.

Katz added last week’s package will not benefit many other businesses which rely on cruising, including farmers, food producers, winemakers, transport companies, port workers and other service providers who supply the cruise industry.

These groups, along with regional destinations, had been severely impacted by the cessation of cruise tourism, “but they could see their livelihoods resuscitated through CLIA’s carefully laid-out plans for a phased resumption of local cruising while international borders remain closed,” he said.

“The cruise industry supports more than 18,000 jobs across Australia, all of which are at risk while the cruise suspension continues.

“Around $5 billion has already been lost to the Australian economy over the past year since the cruise industry stopped operating, and the losses continue to mount,” Katz added, noting the sector had committed to extensive new health protocols in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and has outlined detailed plans that would allow a carefully controlled resumption of domestic cruises for Australians.

“It is vital that governments now finalise these plans so that travel agents and other cruise suppliers can have greater certainty to work towards a longer-term revival,” Katz said.