In a joint statement issued November 5, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) highlighted the importance of the cruise sector for the world economy, saying that according to industry data, the cruise sector supports 1.2 million jobs and contributes US$150 billion to the global economy every year.
In addition they said that tourism is vitally important for small islands states, where it sustains millions of livelihoods and brings substantial socio-economic benefits.
The two UN agencies also recognised the efforts made by the industry, countries and international organizations to protect the safety, health and well-being of passengers and crew, as well as the health of the population of destination port states of cruise ships, adding that since cruise operations were suspended worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry has been reviewing and enhancing its protocols to identify ways to go further in protecting the health of passengers, crew and the general public.
The joint statement invites governments to use the Guidance on the gradual and safe resumption of operations of cruise ships in the European Union in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, to facilitate the recovery of the sector under safe conditions, as well as three framework documents developed by the United Kingdom’s Chamber of Shipping together with CLIA.
The IMO and UNWTO emphasised that the resumption of cruise ship operations will also benefit the wider maritime community, since passenger ships participate in the automated mutual-assistance vessel rescue (AMVER) and are often requested by Rescue Coordination Centres to offer assistance to ships in distress at sea.
IMO and UNWTO reiterated their call to Governments to designate all seafarers and marine personnel as key workers and remove any barriers to crew changes.
A report by John Alwyn-Jones
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