| MPs hear from cruise

A group of cruise industry suppliers has travelled to Canberra to press federal parliamentarians for a pathway to a restart of the industry, to help restore livelihoods and jobs.

Carnival Australia President Sture Myrmell joined the group for the special briefing at Parliament House, where they met with MPs from federal divisions in a number of states that benefit from economic activity generated by cruising.

Representing fresh produce growers, travel advisors, tour operators, marine engineering services and entertainers, the group told MPs its businesses were among many in the travel and tourism sector hit hard by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and which were now looking for certainty to restore livelihoods and jobs.

In the past 15 months, at least $6 billion in cruise-linked economic activity has been lost industry-wide, and more than 700 cruises that would have carried more than 1.8 million guests from Australian ports have been cancelled, Carnival said.

This is money that would have been spent on port-related fees and charges, transport and logistics, food and beverage, shore tours, entertainers and travel advisors.

A quarter of Australian-based travel agencies specialising in Carnival brands in 2019 have now closed, while 6,000 consultants registered in one of the company’s brand training academies have left the industry.

Myrmell said the situation was devastating for the many suppliers who benefit from the multiplier effect of cruising, and had been looking for some sign of encouragement that their businesses could be restored.

Pictured in the flying V formation are Select Fresh Providores’ Steven Biviano, Inter Marine’s Ross DiBartolo, Clean Cruising’s Dan Russell, Myrmell, Bob Wood Cruise Group’s Jay McKenzie, Inter Marine’s Graeme Blackman and cruise entertainer James Bustar.