Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Managing Director in Australasia Joel Katz has penned this exclusive column for Cruise Passenger readers.
News that 87% of Australians are interested in river cruising just proves what we’ve long suspected – Australians have a real affinity for exploring the world’s great waterways, and have become among the world’s most enthusiastic river cruisers.
Cruise Passenger’s latest market research gives us fantastic insight into what motivates the Australian river cruise guest, and its presentation at CLIA’s recent River Cruise Showcase was lapped up by travel agents and cruise line representatives alike.
Importantly it highlighted some of the great attributes of river cruising, and the reasons it has become such a rewarding way to travel.
It shows that people appreciate the fact you only unpack once, that you can travel in comfort and style through incredible destinations, and that everything is taken care of for you.
It confirmed the benefits of sailing right into the centre of historic cities and towns, seeing incredible locations that are often away from the usual tourist hubs, and the ability to relax on deck and watch the world go by.
CLIA’s River Cruise Showcase was the first event of its type held in Australia and it met with a huge response. More than 300 travel agents and industry representatives attended – far more than we anticipated – which shows the huge level of enthusiasm for river cruising right now.
Importantly, each of those travel agents is hungry for more knowledge and insight into river cruising, so they can better serve their clients when it comes to recommending the best cruise opportunities. The feedback they gave shows they felt incredibly optimistic about the latest market research on Australian cruisers, and they loved hearing from our nine participating river cruise lines who helped them understand the latest evolutions in river cruising – including what gives each line its own distinct character and style.
After the success of our first River Cruise Showcase, we’ll plan similar opportunities in the future so that Australia’s travel agents can meet the enthusiasm of travellers.
Alongside CLIA’s other training opportunities for travel agents, it’s another reason why we always stress that a CLIA-accredited travel agent is the best-trained and most knowledgeable cruise specialist to help book your next cruise.
