THE Australian Cruise Association (ACA) and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) are pushing for cruise to rejoin the Australian Standing Committee on Tourism (ASCOT) agenda to ensure the sector receives the attention it deserves. “We’re really pushing for all of the states and territories to try and get cruise back...
THE Australian Cruise Association (ACA) and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) are pushing for cruise to rejoin the Australian Standing Committee on Tourism (ASCOT) agenda to ensure the sector receives the attention it deserves.
“We’re really pushing for all of the states and territories to try and get cruise back onto the ASCOT agenda, which is that federal meeting place for the tourism ministers,” ACA Chief CEO Jill Abel explained to CW.
“Cruise has appeared on the ASCOT agenda a few years ago, but for a very short period of time, so we really want to actually get it back as a permanent piece of that agenda.”
CLIA Managing Director Joel Katz believes the recovery of cruise needs to be led at a national level; however, it is not a problem that can be solved by one tier of government.
“The states can have their strategies and ambitions, but it’s the federal government that regulates cruise as part of the maritime industry…we need to make sure they come together to make sure the states and territories can deliver on their cruise ambitions,” he told CW.
“We want to actually find the opportunity in the right settings and the right federal engagement to support all the states and territories for that next piece of growth that we know is there, because it is showing it globally – we just want to make sure that we get our piece of that market share,” he said.
“We’re very encouraged that all the states and territories are very focused on cruise as part of their visitor economy mix, we just need to bring that all together in a joint action plan.” MS
