Cruise associations join forces to create global body
Nine of the world’s cruise associations have joined forces to create a new body designed to promote the industry on a global level.
The Asia Cruise Association (ACA) and International Cruise Council Australasia (ICCA) have come together with North America’s Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the European Cruise Council (ECC), the UK’s Passenger Shipping Association (PSA/ACE), France’s AFCC, Brazil’s ABREMAR, the Northwest & Canada Cruise Association (NWCCA) and Alaska Cruise Association (ACA) to form the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
Under the change, all association members will use the name CLIA name, with the appropriate geographic designation. So ACA will become CLIA Asia and ICCA will now be named CLIA Australasia. The associations’ existing offices will remain in place.
The new association has been created in an effort to provide a globally unified voice for cruise lines, travel agents and other industry stakeholders, all of which contribute to a US$100 billion industry that supports more than 753,000 jobs worldwide.
For cruise lines, the new association intends to offer a single global resource on technical and regulatory issues and unified global communication and event coordination. For travel agents, the new association aims to offer greater partnership and networking opportunities.
CLIA will be governed by a global executive committee chaired by Howard Frank, Vice Chairman & Chief Operating Officer of Carnival Corporation. Christine Duffy will serve as President & CEO of the new association.
“We are now truly one industry with one voice. 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,” said Frank.
“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.”
The new organisation will take effect immediately, with transitioning, including the introduction of the name change, occurring during 2013.