CRUISES DEAD IN THE WATER
FURIOUS cruise industry bosses say a return to the high seas is looking less and less likely in 2021, as the federal government drags its heels on talks to reopen the sector.
As Australia prepares to throw open its international borders, Cruise Line Industry Association chief Joel Katz says he has heard radio silence on his requests for meetings with Canberra officials, leaving both the industry and travellers adrift and rudderless.
Mr Katz says the poor consultation had made for the bizarre, and imminent, situation where cruise-lovers could board a plane and take a cruise overseas, but not depart on one from their local port.
“We’ve written to most of the senior ministers … and we have had ‘we’ll get back to you in due course’ kinds of responses,” Mr Katz says.
The cruise sector’s concerns have been echoed by other tourism business bosses who are desperately seeking clarity from the federal government on matters such as when vaccinated foreign tourists will be allowed into the country and how long the seven-day home quarantine regime is likely to operate.
The first opening of the international border is just weeks away and Qantas has announced the resumption of overseas flights in November.
Mr Katz says the cruise sector has been trying to obtain government approval for the health protocols they would have to use to restart operations, but without response.
“We’ve been saying to the government that cruise has long lead times. It’s going to take 60 to 90 days to get ships up and running, to get crews vaccinated and trained and bring them back to Australia. We really need to be starting to have those discussions now, regardless of what the actual start date is.”
Mr Katz says some Australians will shortly be heading overseas to go on cruises while the industry is shuttered here, a situation he says it “astounding” and “disappointing”.
Cruising remains suspended on health orders until December 17, but there is no indication from the government as to whether operations could return on December 18, or whether it will be in 2022.
“Our members, our travel agents and the broader cruise community are really seeing that the government has been disrespectful to an industry that employs 18,000 Australians and generates more than $5bn for the Australian economy,” Mr Katz says.
“Nobody is expecting that cruising is going to restart immediately, and nobody’s expecting cruising will restart the same way it was operating pre-Covid, but what we’re saying to the government is let’s sit down and let’s plan what a carefully managed cruise resumption looks like.”
Calls for consultation have come from other sectors, too, especially since the Prime Minister’s announcement last week about the reopening of international borders.
Philip Goh, regional vicepresident for the International Air Transport Association, says it is “essential the government steps up its engagement with the aviation sector to help airlines prepare for the safe and efficient reopening of Australia’s borders”.
Questions over the sevenday home quarantine system are especially pertinent. While it might seem less onerous than a 14-day hotel stay under armed guard, a seven-day home stay is still expected to act as a major brake on tourists coming to Australia.
Qantas Domestic CEO Andrew David says the airline is working with government on a way forward. “We’re hoping to get some confidence built that the seven days becomes 72 hours, and then gets removed altogether,” he says.
Australian Federation of Travel Agents chair Tom Manwaring says the industry need detail across every step of how travel will happen – partly for their own planning but also for informing clients.
“It can’t be done just by saying Australia is open for business,” he says.
Mr Manwaring says the reality is travel agents will continue to need government support for some time.