By
Rebecca Gibson |
What are you most looking forward to in your new role as secretary general?
The globalisation of the cruise industry representative bodies means that this is an exciting time for all of us who represent this vibrant sector. Developing and pulling together new associations across one Europe under the ‘one industry, one voice’ banner – and leveraging that unity to strengthen our advocacy and promotional work – is going to be a hugely challenging and enjoyable task.
What do you believe are the greatest challenges for CLIA Europe and how do you hope to overcome them?
Europe represents the second largest cruise source market and cruising in Europe has grown steadily for over a decade. With low market penetration, there is strong potential for that growth to continue but so too are there challenges in delivering growth. CLIA Europe needs to expand considerably its travel agency training programmes in Europe to encourage more people to take a cruise. But we also need to ensure that Europe remains a good place in which to do cruise business. This means ensuring that new regulations for the industry are well thought through and properly implemented. It also means working with the cruise port associations to ensure that appropriate facilities are in place to meet the needs of our ships and that investment decisions to expand port capacity and reduce congestion are taken in a timely fashion. With an industry association that is represented not only at the regional level but in the key markets across Europe, we are now properly resourced to deliver our message to the full range of audiences. We work with our many stakeholders to deliver a powerful, unified message about what the industry needs to continue to grow and bring value to the economies of Europe.
What are the priorities and the most important projects for your organisation in 2013 and how will you be implementing them?
My priority objective in 2013 will be to continue to reorganise the representation of the industry in Europe by bringing the existing associations under the CLIA name and by creating new ones in those markets that are currently unrepresented. 2013 will be a year of transition and implementation before we arrive at a steady state scenario in 2014.
What concerns you most about the passenger shipping industry now and what changes would you most like to see?
The cruise industry is a fantastic sector in which to work and it’s great to be associated with a product that delivers millions of people wonderful holidays each year. Our guests expect to visit pristine locations without causing harm to the natural, built or cultural environments. This industry can continue to grow but it has to do so in a sustainable way. Sustainable tourism is achievable and desirable but it requires a collective effort from all involved. We need to ensure that the efforts that have already been made by the cruise lines are also reflected by our suppliers, by the ports and by the destinations so that, together, we offer a vacation experience that can be enjoyed for generations to come.
What drives you personally and how do you think it will inform the way you approach your role as secretary general for CLIA Europe?
My main focus is always to make the most of opportunities. As recognised by the European institutions and other stakeholders, there are tremendous opportunities for the cruise sector but we need to work hard to make sure we’re maximising those by removing unnecessary obstacles and enabling the take-up of new ideas and technologies.
What is your vision for CLIA Europe?
As secretary general, my vision for CLIA Europe is to deliver to our members the necessary operating climate that allows them to get on with the job of providing their guests with dream holidays. I want CLIA Europe to be the most efficient association for enabling the growth of safe and sustainable cruise tourism and to help the public and the regulators understand that this is an industry which brings real value to the economies of Europe.