CLIA and Australian Cruise Association cruise into the Australian Tourism Exchange
Australia’s leading cruise industry associations, Australian Cruise Association (ACA) and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), will mount their first joint presence at this year’s Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) to promote the diversity of cruising in this region to the international travel market.
ATE, which will be held this year on Australia’s Gold Coast, is expectied to attract around 550 international buyers from around the world, providing yet another opportunity to position our country’s thriving cruise industry on the global stage.
“There has never been a better time for our two associations to harness our joint marketing power and show the world what Australia has to offer with a range of deepwater ports and incredible onshore activities,” said Jill Abel, CEO of ACA. “This push has been further enhanced by the MOU we formed with Tourism Australia in 2022 when they stated that cruise would play a crucial role in Australia’s tourism recovery.”
CLIA Managing Director in Australasia Joel Katz said ATE23 would give both associations the opportunity to meet with key tourism wholesalers and retailers from around the world to discuss the important developments taking place in Australia’s resurgent cruise sector.
“There is an incredible level of energy and enthusiasm being illustrated by our industry, which is on course to new prosperity in Australia,” Mr Katz said. “We will be taking the message to key global markets that Australia continually punches above its weight as a cruise destination and has an incredible amount to offer international travellers.”
Recently returned from Seatrade Cruise Global in Florida, both organisations agree that the future is incredibly bright for Australian cruising. The industry has completed a successful first year of operations since its resumption in Australia, attracting strong passenger numbers and positive booking trends extending well into the future.
The approaching 2023-24 season will see a further increase in ships operating in Australia, including several maiden visits by cruise lines operating in the region for the first time.
While both associations have attended ATE previously, this will be the first year they have come together on one co-branded booth (#231) with CEO, Jill Abel (ACA) and Managing Director, Joel Katz (CLIA) hosting a full schedule of appointments.
Their focus will be on showcasing the vast array of cruising options available across the country with a new brochure, “12 Iconic Cruise Regions in Australia” forming the backdrop to their discussions.
The brochure includes the urban gateways and regional ports that join the dots around Australia’s 30,000km coastline, offering up itineraries for all cruise line vessel sizes and exciting shore excursions for their passengers.
(CLIA Australasia, Australian Cruise Association)
