Cruise industry recovery to be made a top priority, say UN organisations
A joint statement issued by UNWTO and IMO in early November calls for governments to support the safe resumption of cruise activities, as the cruise sector is a key contributor to the world economy
On 5 November, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) released a joint statement advocating for governments to help facilitate the recovery of the cruise sectors by designating all seafarers and marine personnel as ‘key workers’ and removing any barriers to crew changes.
This, the two organisations believe, will be an integral step to helping spur on the recovery of the global cruise sector, which supports 1.2 million jobs and contributes US$150 billion to the global economy every year.
New guidance to governments
UNWTO and IMO invite 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 help facilitate the recovery of the sector under safe conditions, as well as three framework documents (operator framework, passenger framework and seafarer framework) developed by the United Kingdom’s Chamber of Shipping together with CLIA.
Protecting the wellbeing of passengers and crew
The two UN agencies note that the cruise industry has made great efforts since the advent of the global pandemic 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.
Both UNWTO and IMO note 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.”
Cruises to nowhere in Singapore
As part of one of the many new clever initiatives dreamt up by the travel industry to help recoup lost revenue, Dream Cruises is now offering ‘cruises to nowhere’ onboard its World Dream cruise ship in Singapore.
Two- and three-night cruises to nowhere are available to Singaporeans as part of the company’s ‘Super Seacation’ experience, and the concept is similar to that of Royal Caribbean’s three- and four-night sailings – also boarding in Singapore – leaving on December 1 aboard Quantum of the Seas.
Dream Cruises explains that all activities onboard World Dream will be organised in accordance with permitted group sizes — specific to each activity – as per Covid-19 health and safety guidelines. Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean notes that it has partnered with ‘top medical minds’ and the Singapore government to help design its safe cruising plan.
No doubt inspired by Qantas Airline’s ‘flights to nowhere’ – the new cruises to nowhere present an innovative solution to the cruise industry looking to help boost trade – which, as both UNWTO and IMO note, needs to be made a high priority.