The International Cruise Council Australasia (ICCA) was left handcuffed by its current role and unable to launch a concerted response to the Costa Concordia tragedy, its chairman has admitted.
Gavin Smith used a speech at the ICCA awards night in Sydney on Saturday to stress that now more than ever the local industry needs to tackle issues wider than just training and education.
While it “stands alongside” cruise associations in the US, UK and Europe, greater powers were needed in Australia, he said.
The “journey has begun” to achieve that, he added.
Addressing the issue of the Concordia, Smith said the industry response to the tragedy was led by US-based Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) with support from bodies in the UK and Europe.
“Where, you may ask, was ICCA? which is a source of many emails to our board, Brett Jardine (ICCA general manager) and myself,” Smith told more than 400 people gathered for the awards. “Why weren’t we leading the debate here in Australia and New Zealand? I would say that we were stranded in our current role as the industry trainer and educator, a motivator of travel consultants. It is not yet our role to take a lead in such matters as commentators or spokespeople.”
That needs to change, he said.
“We shouldn’t underestimate the key role Australia and NZ have played in the continued growth and success of the cruise industry. As a result, we in this room need to play our part in navigating policy, regulation, legislation, managing media curiosity and the vagary of consumer demand.
“This can best be achieved under the watchful eye of a robust and effective cruise association.”
Such an expanded role already received “general agreement” following a “vigorous debate” at ICCA’s annual general meeting in December, Smith said (Travel Today, December 14).
“I can’t say that we have the answers just yet but between us and very specifically with the assistance of the chief executives of the cruise lines of the world, ICCA will commence the march toward unity and cooperation and alignment with CLIA while maintaining our own identity,” Smith said.
Talks have begun with CLIA to align training, education, reporting the economic impact of cruising, government relations and policy development.
“Never before has it been this clear that the direction of the world’s cruise associations needs to be very closely aligned,” he said.
