A new government forum has been set up to “discuss joint priorities and collaboration over the long term”, according to Clia UK and Ireland’s deputy chair.
The Cruise Industry and Government Forum will meet twice a year, chaired by the Department for Transport and Clia UK and Ireland managing director Andy Harmer.
Clia UK and Ireland is one of several organisations involved in the forum, which met for the first time in October.
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Maritime UK, the UK Chamber of Shipping, Cruise Britain, and Cruise Scotland are also part of the forum, which will also include cruise line representatives and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Deputy chair Rob Scott (pictured), who is also P&O Cruises vice-president of sales, marketing and brand, insisted the industry continues to “leverage the strength of government relationships and credibility” built up during the pandemic.
Speaking during his keynote speech at the Clia Forum on Thursday (December 8), Scott said: “The forum will meet twice a year and brings together officials from government departments with industry representatives to discuss joint priorities and collaboration over the long term.
“We welcome this initiative and look forward to maintaining these vital links with relevant ministers across business, tourism and shipping.”
Scott added the forum would help “build a successful and sustainable cruise industry including the necessary infrastructure for sustainable fuels around green energy in line with cruise industry’s investment in this area”.
He went on to explain how the cruise industry remains “a significant contributor to the UK economy”.
Clia Europe director general Marie-Caroline Laurent later highlighted how destinations benefit from cruise tourism.
Every 24 cruisers coming into a destinations supports a full-time job, she said, adding that passengers spend an average of $750 in port cities over the course of a typical seven-day cruise.