The International Cruise Council Australasia (ICCA) is to change its name to the Cruise Lines International Association Australasia as part of a global move to ensure the industry speaks with "one voice".
ICCA will join eight other cruise associations across the world to form a global trade association under the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) banner.
Each of the other associations will also change their names.
ICCA general manager Brett Jardine will continue to report to the Australasian board as well as global chief executive of the new body, Christine Duffy.
The move towards a new structure was flagged by Travel Today earlier this year (ICCA: March to new role begins, Travel Today, February 13).
CLIA said the new structure will enable cruise lines to present a united front on technical and regulatory issues while travel agents will benefit from "more robust partnership programs and networking on a broader scale".
"We are now truly one industry with one voice," said Howard Frank, chairman of CLIA's new global executive committee, which will govern the body. "Given the tremendous growth and continuing globalisation of the cruise industry, this evolution addresses the need to speak and act globally with a unified voice while recognising the importance of local relationships."
He added: "The new association will play a vital role in proactively shaping the policy and regulatory environments on a global level and promoting cruising with various constituencies through more effective coordination, communication and stakeholder engagement."
Duffy said a global approach will bring "immediate and longer term benefits" and strengthen the industry's leadership on "safety, security, the environment, sustainability and health".
Gavin Smith said it made "enormous sense" to join a global organisation.
"This new structure will strengthen the cruise industry's voice in Australia and New Zealand and provide greater resources for the benefit of our travel agent and cruise line members," he said.
CLIA will represent the industry at global conferences while local issues will still be handled at a regional level.
Regional and country offices along with new staff appointments "will be the subject of a future announcement".
