The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has stepped up its fight for a resumption of cruising in Australia, issuing a call for travel industry supporters to join its ‘Ready, Set, Sail’ campaign.

Launched today, the initiative will target travel agents, industry stakeholders and other members of Australia’s cruise community, urging them to raise their voice and place new pressure on state and federal parliamentarians.

To drive the campaign, CLIA has created a new online action centre at which enables supporters to message politicians quickly and easily.

With a few clicks, users can generate instant emails to local MPs and key ministers, or personalise a message to tell of their own story and circumstances.

CLIA’s managing director for Australasia, Joel Katz, said the ‘Ready, Set, Sail’ campaign aimed to reinforce the cruise industry’s lobbying efforts and highlight the impact the cruise suspension has had on thousands of Aussie businesses and workers.

“We have had extensive discussions with governments over many months and the time has come to put plans into action and agree on a path forward for cruising,” he said.

“More than 18,000 jobs are in jeopardy and thousands of local businesses are at serious risk. The suspension of cruising has already cost Australians more than $5 billion and we can’t stem further losses without government action.”

Katz said the personal messages of Australian supporters would help demonstrate the extent of community backing for cruising and the number of people whose livelihoods are at risk.

He said it would also reinforce the ongoing discussions taking place between CLIA and governments as the industry works towards revival.

CLIA and its cruise line members are calling for governments to agree upon a detailed framework for cruising’s resumption, backed by the industry’s new global health protocols.

These protocols include 100 per cent testing of all passengers and crew before boarding, as well as stringent measures covering crew quarantine, distancing, sanitation, health monitoring and response procedures.

The cruise industry is pushing for the implementation of these measures as part of a phased resumption that begins with domestic cruising for Australians only, within an Australian bubble.

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