CLIA Partners with South Pacific Tourism Organisation

Peak cruise industry body Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia has launched a partnership with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) to promote the sustainable growth of cruise tourism in the region.

Announced during the United Nations Small Islands Developing States meeting in Samoa this week, the partnership will encourage sustainable cruise tourism which can deliver economic and social benefits to the South Pacific.

The South Pacific is the most popular cruise destination for Australian and New Zealand cruisers, with CLIA statistics showing almost 350,000 holidaymakers from the two nations enjoyed cruises to the region last year.

SPTO Chief Executive Ilisoni Vuidreketi said the new partnership would enable both organisations to combine their resources, networks and experience to create an important leadership forum in the region.

"The projects implemented through this partnership will aim to serve the interests of both the SPTO member nations and the cruise lines that bring tourists to the islands,” Mr Vuidreketi said.

"Specifically, it will create a platform of information and insights for developing a coordinated and collaborative strategic plan for cruise tourism in the Pacific.”

Mr Vuidreketi said the partnership would enable South Pacific nations to better understand the cruise industry and address practical issues such as the facilities and services that cruise lines require.

“At the end of the day, for cruise lines and member nations, the partnership will provide essential information and analysis on capacity, source markets, destinations and shoreside experiences plus an assessment of challenges and constraints of operating in the region," Mr Vuidreketi said.

"This partnership gives us the opportunity to share any major development activities and opportunities and to work towards mutually beneficial outcomes in terms of the growth of the cruise tourism sector."

CLIA Australasia Executive Director Neil Linwood said the partnership recognised the importance of sustainable cruise tourism in the beautiful South Pacific region.

“It is very important to our member cruise lines that we work collaboratively with the region to develop cruise tourism in a manner which will help to deliver further economic benefits to our South Pacific neighbours over the years ahead,” Mr Linwood said.

Mr Linwood said the importance of cruising in the region had been underlined this week by the release of a report which showed that cruise tourism injected A$34 million into the Vanuatu economy last year and brought a further A$18 million in indirect economic benefits. The report also highlighted a further A$35 million of net economic benefit opportunity based on further investment in Vanuatu’s cruise tourism sector.

Funded by the Australian Government, World Bank Group member IFC and cruise operator Carnival Australia, the report also showed that the cruise industry provided more than 3000 employment opportunities in Vanuatu, with twice as many visitors arriving by ship than by plane.

Information supplied by: Carnival Australia.

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