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Cruise industry must shed outdated image, debate hears
Question Time special report: The cruise industry needs to shed its outdated image and improve its communication to agents and customers if it is to realise its full potential, TravelMole’s travel industry question time has heard.
Speaking at a debate on the future of cruising, Royal Caribbean UK and Ireland managing director Robin Shaw said while growth has been strong, more can be achieved.
He said shedding the industry of deep-rooted stereotypes was key.
“We’ve had 18 years of unbroken growth and yet cruising still only represents 2.5% of foreign holidays sold,” he said. “Whether we like it or not, people don’t consider a cruising holiday because the perception is different from reality.
“We all have a job to communicate the cruising is not just for old people, that it’s not too expensive and that there is loads to do on a cruise.”
He said 80% of first time cruisers indicate they would like to go again.
Passenger Shipping Association director Bill Gibbons predicted one in ten package customers could soon be going on a cruise.
“The Federation of Tour Operators has said the package market will decline 4% to 5% this year and a further 3% to 4% next year,” he said. “By 2008 cruising could be moving towards 10% of the package market.”
Report by Steve Jones
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