Smartraveller and CLIA have jointly developed a new e-learning module that helps CLIA travel agents learn how to get the most out of the tools, resources and advice available.

October once again heralds the start of the summer cruise season and the world’s biggest cruise promotion with Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia encouraging Australians and New Zealanders to ‘#ChooseCruise’ this month.

Responding to feedback from CLIA travel agent members for more social media training, CLIA Australasia and Asia Managing Director Joel Katz has announced this year’s conference will include a Social Media workshop by Jordana Borensztajn, a social media strategist, presentation skills coach and author of business-marketing book ‘Capture My Attention: How to Stand Out Online with Creative Content’.

“The warning bells are ringing ever louder. We talk about it every year, but now for the first time we are able to see the impact of it. We’ve been warning this for years,” Odell told CLIA members in Sydney.

“We can see the number of new ships that are being built and the percentage that won’t fit under the bridge, combined with the age of the existing fleet. It’s inevitable that bigger and bigger ships are going to be coming down to this part of the world. That’s not to say that there isn’t space for the small ships. As we said, expedition is growing exponentially as well, and there is definitely room for the smaller ships. But we need to be able to accommodate the bigger ships, because that’s where the volume is.”

Cruise destinations presenting include Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, Monaco, Singapore, Japan, New Zealand and New York as well as local tourism bodies: Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

“As cruise continues to grow in popularity, more cruise lines will base more ships down under and the number of homeports and itineraries will only grow,” says CLIA Australasia Managing Director, Joel Katz.