Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is stepping up the pressure on the Australian federal government to allow a restart of the cruise industry, and wants travel advisors and customers to join the fight.
The ‘Ready, Set, Sail’ campaign highlights the economic impact the cruise pause is having on thousands of businesses and workers directly and indirectly.
CLIA has created a new tool which allows users to instantly message state and federal lawmakers.
The tool can generate instant emails to local MPs and ministers, or it can be personalised to relate to their own situation, whether a struggling cruise travel agent or customer with cruise withdrawal symptoms.
"We have had extensive discussions with governments over many months and the time has come to put plans into action and agree on a path forward for cruising," CLIA Australasia Managing Director Joel Katz said.
"More than 18,000 jobs are in jeopardy and thousands of local businesses are at serious risk. The suspension of cruising has already cost Australians more than $5 billion and we can’t stem further losses without government action."
