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Qantas Joins Cruise Council
The International Cruise Council Australasia has welcomed Australia’s national airline, Qantas Airways, into its associate member ranks, with Cruise Council General Manager Linda Halliday saying Qantas was the fourth travel company to join the Council as an associate member this year, reflecting increased interest in the cruise industry following its consistent growth in past years.
“Airlines provide an important link for the many Australians each year who choose to take a cruise holiday and Qantas is unique in being able to offer a comprehensive web of international and domestic flights.
“Now Qantas will have a direct channel to better tap into the hundreds of Cruise Council member travel agents around Australia who sell both domestic and international fly/cruise holidays every day,” Ms Halliday said.
The Australian and New Zealand cruise industry has recorded several consecutive years of growth, with more than 221,000 Australians choosing to take a cruising holiday in 2006 – up 18 per cent on 2005.
Cruises to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific were the most popular with Australians in 2006, attracting 63 per cent of total passenger numbers, while 15 per cent chose to cruise to Asia and 9 per cent to explore Alaska/Canada.
“An influx in the number of visiting international ships and local cruise ships based in Australia in the next few years, coupled with expanding fleets around the globe will give local holidaymakers more cruise holiday choice than ever before,” Ms Halliday said.
Qantas Airways’ membership will bring the number of associate members to eight.
Formed in 1996, the International Cruise Council Australasia has 23 member cruise lines and is responsible for raising trade and consumer awareness about cruising.
Report by The Mole
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