The Cruise Lines International Association has called for national policy action to reverse declining Australian cruise competitiveness, warning the sector’s decline threatens 22,000 jobs reliant on international cruise tourism.
Cruise360 conference highlights falling ship visits
At the Cruise360 Australasia conference in Sydney, attended by almost 1,000 travel industry professionals, CLIA executive director Australasia Joel Katz said demand for cruise holidays remained at record levels globally and in Australia, despite declining ship visits at Australian ports.
“We need to put Australia back on course – we need to restore Australia’s competitiveness as a cruise destination,” Katz said.
“We need stable, practical and competitive policy settings, so that Australia can continue to attract cruise ships and deliver billions of dollars’ worth of benefits to communities around the country.”
CLIA figures show cruise tourism, worth more than $7 billion a year to Australia, has declined by more than $1 billion as fewer ships call at Australian ports. Katz said the trend validated concerns the industry had previously raised.
“Our industry’s warnings about a complex and uncertain regulatory environment, and rising costs, have been proven right. Our region has been losing competitiveness, and we need to turn that around,” he said.
Paddock to Port Alliance highlights broader economic impact
The comments follow last month’s launch of the Australian Paddock to Port Alliance, bringing together farmers, food suppliers, tourism operators, travel agents, ports and destinations whose businesses depend on cruise tourism. Katz said New Zealand had raised similar concerns, with key ministers there championing a whole-of-government approach to reviving cruise tourism, and said Australian states and territories had shown support for cruise visitation but a coordinated national approach was needed.
Cruise360 Australasia brings together travel agents, cruise line representatives, destinations and tourism operators to address issues facing the global cruise sector.
