| CLIA pleads with Morrison for sense

CRUISE Lines International Association (CLIA) is seeking the Prime Minister’s support, writing to Scott Morrison (pictured) searching for a breakthrough in discussions over the industry’s future ahead of next month’s review of Australia’s cruise suspension.

CLIA Managing Director Australasia Joel Katz said the industry had renewed its call for cruising to be included in Australia’s four-phase plan for reopening and was seeking further discussions on a framework for resumption before the current suspension ends on 17 Sep.

“We need the Prime Minister to provide a breakthrough and allow detailed discussions to move forward, so we can have certainty for the 18,000 Australians whose jobs depend on cruising,” Katz said.

He added Australia remained one of the only major cruise markets in the world where governments had yet to achieve progress on a resumption of cruising, despite 12 months of discussion with governments and the availability of stringent COVID-19 health protocols which already work successfully where cruising has resumed.

“With the release of the Doherty advice, it is clear there is an opportunity to align a carefully managed cruise restart with the national four-phase plan,” Katz said.

“This should be highly achievable – the new health measures cruise lines have adopted globally are the most stringent to be found anywhere in tourism.

“Already more than 900,000 people have sailed successfully overseas, providing extensive insight and evidence to support a resumption in Australia.”

Katz said now the country has clear vaccination targets and a plan for reopening, it needs to ensure cruising is included in this scheme, and there is an agreed framework for resumption.

“It can take months to prepare for operations, so we need to be having those detailed discussions now to ensure we’re ready for a careful resumption when conditions allow.”