Australia a top priority for Lindblad, founder insists

Australia a top priority for Lindblad, founder insists
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Lindblad Expeditions has underlined its “high hopes” for the Australian market, dismissing recent speculation it might be considering a withdrawal from the Kimberley in 2015.

Founder Sven Lindblad told Travel Today that the firm, which acquired Orion Expedition Cruises in March, has “no intention” of scaling down its local operations.

“The salient message is that when we bought the Orion company, we bought it because we were very interested in developing a very positive future with Australia,” he told Travel Today.

He pointed to the recent appointment of his son, Jeremy Lindblad, to the role of business development director Australia as a clear sign of the firm’s commitment to growing its presence in the local market.

“I don’t think we would send him down there if we weren’t committed to the Australian market,” he said, adding that the rest of the Orion team remains in place in recognition of their local expertise.

“We are still in the learning phase,” he said. “At some point we might have some ideas to offer that might mean approaching it a little differently, but we are really not there yet.”

Meanwhile, the firm is also focused on growing Australian interest in Lindblad’s other cruise itineraries around the world that are operated by its nine other ships.

“We are putting more effort into Australia than into the rest of the world combined,” he revealed.

That focus has seen Australia rise from its number four market to its second most significant.

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