Aussies have overwhelmingly embraced cruising again with almost half a million cruisers setting sail from June–December 2022. To meet demand, TAFE NSW and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) have launched a traineeship program to fast-track careers in the cruise sector.
According to CLIA Source Market data, 457,200 Australians embarked on a cruise in the second half of 2022, despite only half a year of local operations and limited ships in the region.
Australian cruisers showed a clear preference for local sailings in 2022 with 90 per cent choosing to cruise in our region (up from about 75-80% in past years).
CLIA Managing Director Australasia Joel Katz said the figures pointed to a swift recovery in the local market, reaching almost 90 per cent of 2019 levels in the last quarter of 2022 for the same period.
“Cruise travel among Australians accelerated significantly in the lead-up to the summer season,” he said.
“All the indicators suggest Australia’s cruise recovery is progressing faster than other parts of the world where operations resumed much earlier.”
CLIA Chairman for Australasia Ben Angell said: “By next summer we expect to welcome around 60 international cruise ships to local waters, which is similar to 2019 levels.”
“Travel agents are reporting strong demand for cruises well into the future and the Australian cruise industry is on track to catch up to the rest of the world quite swiftly.”
TAFE NSW x CLIA training
Riding the wave of demand, TAFE NSW and CLIA’s new traineeship program will help students set sail for a career in cruising sales.
The program enables trainees to complete a Certificate III in Travel or Certificate IV in Travel & Tourism with TAFE NSW and secure immediate employment with CLIA member cruise lines or travel agencies.
The first trainee to benefit from the unique partnership is 17-year-old Lindsay Campbell who completed her Certificate III in Travel while working as a Travel Assistant to Masters-accredited CLIA travel agent Megan Catterall.
Ms Catterall was recently named Australia’s Home-Based Agent of the Year in the annual CLIA Awards.
Find out more at cruising.org.au
