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Although I was not able to secure an interview with Joel Katz from CLIA or Deb Corbett or Sarina Bratton from PONANT, to discuss the Northern Territory Government’s decision regarding the cruise operators that had been intending to operate from Darwin, they did provide me with a statement from each organisation and the difference in the approach, style and content of each response is very interesting!

Firstly, this what Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia had to say in their statement:-

Cruise tourism ordinarily generates $60m a year for the Northern Territory economy, helping to support hundreds of jobs in local businesses including tour operators, travel agents, hotels, restaurants, transport workers, farmers and produce suppliers.

The Northern Territory is particularly suited to small-ship and expedition cruising, which brings valuable economic opportunities to smaller regional locations and remote communities.

Cruise lines globally have committed to extensive new health protocols in response to COVID-19, including 100% testing of all passengers and crew as well as extensive measures covering crew quarantine, distancing, sanitation, health monitoring and response procedures.

With these measures in place, the cruise industry is calling on the Federal Government to finalise a critical pathway and timeline for the carefully managed, phased resumption of domestic cruising. This will provide the guidelines the states require to develop a workable framework for cruise resumption. 

CLIA envisages a tightly controlled resumption of cruising that begins initially with domestic itineraries for locals only. This would involve limited sailings within local waters while border restrictions remain – catering to Australian residents only, within Australia. 

Similar domestic-first cruise models are already operating successfully under strict health protocols overseas, including in parts of Europe and Asia.

The suspension of cruise operations has cost the Australian economy more than $5 billion over the past year and puts more than 18,000 jobs at risk nationally. Now is the time to agree on a responsible pathway forward, so that businesses and communities can plan for a much-needed tourism revival.  

Sadly CLIA, I am sorry to have to say that this statement does not really say anything, but we can only hope that there is a great deal going on behind the scenes to make the NT Government change is ridiculous policy.

Ah well, let’s move on to the very different statement by Sarina Bratton, Chair of PONANT Asia Pacific:-

The States and Territory are all waiting for the Federal Government to provide their Framework for a phased resumption of cruise activity.

The intent of this framework is to provide guidelines to each State and Territory to commence expedition and/or cruise activity at a level they feel comfortable with doing so under their respective State/Territory Health Frameworks.

The Federal Draft Framework provides for small, expedition ship activity as its first step, then moves to larger vessel capacities in a staged approach.

Under the principles announced by the Chief Health Officer of the NT, it does not allow any of the international operators to operate, nor any domestic operations with more than 100 persons (pax and crew). 

This effectively kills the Kimberley operations using Darwin as the homeport.

In a recent meeting with Hugh Heggie the NT CHO, it was pleasing to hear him and the Deputy CHO both say that it is “not if, but when” they will be ready to resume activity.

Of course, this present position causes us all great concern for the many thousands of Australians who have confirmed bookings for the 2021 Kimberley season; the many Darwin based suppliers, hotels, ground operators, food and beverage suppliers, all of whom have long term supplier agreements with a number of us, and of course our valued distribution system – the travel agents.

Just across APT and PONANT’s bookings alone, some $6 million of agents commissions are being jeopardised. 

We are in continual dialogue with the Federal and State/Territory Governments trying to find our way through to an acceptable solution. The industry provides about $60m of economic impact to the NT and Darwin economies in a normal year.

Excellent Sarina and well done, with in your usual, inimitable, to the point and highly professional style, which is what this ridiculous scenario needs, telling the NT Government the way it is.

We hope very sincerely that they will listen to you and so they should, as you are one of this country and region’s longest standing experts in cruising.

A report and opinion by John Alwyn-Jones