CLIA’s local solutions

NEW Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia Chairman Gavin Smith (CW 21 May) has spoken of his organisation’s goals of solving a “global problem” with “local solutions” when tackling the global cruising suspension.

Speaking on a CLIA webinar yesterday with Global Chair Adam Goldstein and Australasia Managing Director Joel Katz, Smith spoke of the efforts being made by the cruise industry in Australia and New Zealand to attempt to adapt to operating restrictions in a range of jurisdictions.

“Many of you know the brand executives in Australia are remaining relatively silent and unavailable at the moment because this is a global problem with local solutions,” Smith said.

“We’re all working both as a collective and on a brand basis to derive the best possible solution at a global level and then we’re looking for the application of those solutions at a local level, and they are further complicated by looking for a federal approach to the federal regulators and then because of our state system.

“We then have to default back to our key states, particularly New South Wales and Queensland, where the bulk of our business operations are based for the industry, but also more remote bases, such as Darwin and Broome.”

Smith, Royal Caribbean Cruises’ local Vice President & Managing Director, defended the relative silence of the region’s cruise executives, who are collaborating on a group effort to return cruising.

“It’s a complex challenge and we were very available back in May, but now we’re very focused on supporting very large businesses and very significant brands who are getting their playbook out again and looking to navigate unknown territory.”

Goldstein also told CW he was optimistic some form of cruising could resume around the world in the coming months, but warned it is unrealistic to expect a “full restart at the snap of a finger” (CW yesterday).