WITH Kevin O’Sullivan, CEO, New Zealand Cruise Association: I spent much of last week
travelling around the South
Island, visiting our members
and working with ports and
tourism organisations at cruise
workshops.
In days gone by we would have
had pre-cruise season gatherings
to discuss the global and national
outlook for cruise and work
through operational details to
make sure everything went well
on cruise days.
We would also hold postseason
workshops to examine
what worked and what could be
improved.
This time though it was
difficult to be upbeat, and my
presentations were on the gloomy
side as we don’t want to give
the important people that make
cruise successful false hope.
They needed to know that
government is not yet supporting
a return of cruise, and there is no
indication when that will happen.
The questions from most
participants were, “the rest of
the world is starting – why cant
we”, and “Australians can cross
the Tasman in planes, why not in
ships?”
Good questions, but I can’t
answer them – I wish I could.
The hopeful ones are looking at
this hiatus as a time when we can
plan to come back better.
Yes indeed.
