Have faith in a rebound of cruising
THE pattern of gradual restart for the cruising sector currently being experienced in Norway “should give comfort that the industry’s rebound strategies will work,” according to Hurtigruten MD APAC, Damian Perry.
“While Australia is slowly progressing with domestic travel and it may feel like the current policies are crippling for international outbound businesses, in Norway we are seeing a real-life rebound model in play with the domestic market travelling and an increased interest in bookings for international sailings,” he said.
“We are confident that Australia and New Zealand will follow the same pattern,” Perry added.
Hurtigruten’s global CEO Daniel Skjeldam (pictured) has highlighted the company’s relaunch of passenger cruising (CW 19 Jun) as a model for the industry’s recommencement.
“With MS Midnatsol departing Bergen with guests tonight and in the wake of recent sailings with MS Finnmarken, MS Richard With and MS Trollfjord we now have four ships on the water offering guests round trips on the Norwegian coast,” Skjeldam said.
“At present we have had no cases or suspected cases of COVID-19 infection on board any of our ships...I take great pride in knowing that Hurtigruten is currently operating and safely sailing the Norwegian fjords in this special time of history.
“We are serving meals and refreshments; we are giving lectures; we are offering shore excursions; we arrange onboard activities...in summary we produce an abnormal normality! And the guests love it,” he added.
Perry encouraged the Australian and NZ travel industry to remain strong and customer focused.
“This pattern of local, then regional sailings, followed by international bookings that Hurtigruten is experiencing should give comfort that the industry’s rebound strategies will work.
“The rebound will not happen overnight, as we have seen in Norway the process must be a measured, carefully phased rollout, with the health and safety of your guests, staff and crew to be your top priority,” he added.