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13 September, 2021

CLIA encourages agents to tell government how they feel about cruise suspension

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The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has launched the next phase of its ‘Ready, Set, Sail’ campaign in response to ongoing government inaction over the future of Australian cruising.

Following the federal government’s extension of Australia’s cruise suspension earlier this month, CLIA has urged travel agents, industry stakeholders and other supporters to send a new message to state and federal parliamentarians.

The campaign directs supporters to an online tool where they can message politicians quickly and easily. Users can generate instant emails to local MPs and key ministers, or personalise a message to tell their own story and circumstances.

CLIA’s regional managing director, Joel Katz, said an initial campaign launched in May resulted in more than 40,000 emails to MPs around Australia and helped to change the political conversation around cruising.

“Politicians are increasingly acknowledging the need to revive the cruise economy, but we need them to do more so we can get detailed plans in place,” he said.

“We need to break the cycle of inaction and achieve firm plans for a careful revival of cruising.”

CLIA has called for cruising to be included in the four-phase national plan to reopen Australia and wind back travel restrictions.

The association has outlined its own four-phase pathway to cruising’s revival based on the same vaccination targets used in the national plan, and is seeking discussions to agree on a detailed framework for implementation.

“Australia is the only major cruise destination in the world where governments have made no progress towards a responsible resumption of cruising, despite months of discussions and the availability of stringent new health protocols in response to COVID-19,” Katz said.

“With our supporters’ help, we want to send a clear message that Australians deserve a detailed plan for our industry’s revival.”

Featured image source: iStock/RyanJLane

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