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New leaders of Passenger Shipping Association announced
Andy Harmer, head of the Association of Cruise Experts, will replace Bill Gibbons as director of the Passenger Shipping Association on May 1 when both ACE and the PSA will join CLIA.
Gibbons, who has been director of the PSA for 19 years, is to retire.
Jo Rzymowska, associate vice president and general manager UK and Ireland for Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises, will take on the position of chairman for CLIA UK and Ireland.
From now on, technical and regulatory issues will be looked after by CLIA Europe, which will oversee the activities of the national associations.
"We look forward to working with them on developing events and communications to create a greater interest in cruise holidays," said Harmer, who will have the title of CLIA UK & Ireland director.
Latest figures revealed by the PSA show that 1.7 million Britons took at least one cruise holiday last year, with more than half taking at least two. A record 374,220 booked three or more.
The numbers choosing to cruise directly from a UK port grew 10% to 962,000 and there was a 30% increase in bookings for ultra-luxury cruises.
The number of cruise customers is expected to grow by a further 60,000 this
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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