Representatives of Australia’s food wholesalers, beverage providers, farmers and transport companies joined other suppliers in order to support plans for a phased resumption of cruises in Australia.
The businesses are among thousands of companies in Australia impacted by the suspension of the country’s $5 billion-a-year cruise economy, which put 18,000+ jobs at risk across the country.
CLIA Australasia created a Cruise Suppliers Advisory Group made up of businesses that supply cruise companies’ onboard operations. They include representatives of food wholesalers, beverage suppliers, farmers, transport companies, technical support providers, and others from the supply chain of the industry.
According to CLIA Australasia's Managing Director Joel Katz, the advisory group would meet regularly as part of efforts to ensure the cruise industry’s voice was heard by governments at the state, territory, and national levels.
“Many of these suppliers have been devastated by the suspension of cruise operations in a similar way to members of the travel and tourism industry.
“There are farmers, winemakers and technical providers who have lost an enormous portion of their business because cruise lines are no longer able to purchase their products and services.”
CLIA created an industry working group to assist the government in creating a pathway to a carefully managed and responsible resumption of cruises in Australia.
Joel Katz added that cruise lines had been working with health authorities and medical experts to create extensive measures to uphold safety and health in response to COVID, which would be used to create industry-wide standards.