CLIA backs industry day of action

CRUISE Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia has developed new resources specifically to support the planned Australian national travel and cruise industry Day of Action next Tue 25 Jan ( t yesterday).

CLIA MD Joel Katz

The Day of Action will involve groups of travel agents, suppliers, tour operators and other local businesses impacted by the cruising impasse gathering at MP’s offices across the country, with the initiative being coordinated through the fast-growing Aussie Travel Action Group (ATAG) which has already amassed more than 1,300 members in the five days since it was established.

Participants will gather in groups of up to 20 at electoral offices between 11am and 1pm on Tue 25 Jan, sharing their personal stories of how the cruise and travel bans are impacting their lives and businesses.

“As agents and suppliers converge on MP offices... it is an opportunity to share your personal stories and highlight the urgent need for action from our governments to lift the ban and support the devastated travel industry,”

To support the initiative, CLIA has created special downloadable resources to assist with MP meetings, including the organisation’s Model for Responsible Sailing (CLICK HERE) and a flyer highlighting “Careful steps forward” which notes that more than 18,000 Australians rely on the cruise industry for their livelihood and deserve a pathway forward (CLICK HERE)

“It’s now clear the incidence of COVID-19 is far lower on cruise ships than on land... the number of cases detected at sea is just a small fraction of passengers and crew on board and a tiny portion of the millions of people who have sailed successfully since operations resumed,” he said.

The Day of Action will also utilise resources developed by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) as part of its Mobilisation Toolkit, in support of its proposed Travel Sector Skills Retention and Recovery Package, with organisers stressing that they want to support the high level lobbying efforts being undertaken with Governments by AFTA, CLIA and the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO).

Anyone impacted by the ban is being urged to take part in the Day of Action, with more details and full guidance available through the ATAG Facebook Group by (CLICK HERE). .