Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) managing director Australasia Joel Katz has responded to the announcement, yesterday, of a 19 April 2021 resumption of travel between Australia and New Zealand.
“The announcement of a trans-Tasman travel bubble is a positive step forward for tourism in Australia and New Zealand, particularly for the many thousands of travel agents and other businesses that have been devastated by border restrictions over the past year.
“However, this announcement highlights the lack of progress being made towards a responsible resumption of local cruise operations, without which an estimated 25,000 jobs are still at risk across the region.
“Cruise lines globally have committed to extensive new health protocols in response to COVID-19, including 100% testing of all guests and crew. These measures are among the most comprehensive of any industry worldwide and are already working successfully in several countries overseas.
“Now is the time for governments in Australia and New Zealand to progress a phased and tightly controlled resumption of local cruising, operating initially for locals-only within domestic boundaries or within the trans-Tasman bubble.”
