“The cruise industry must play its part in fighting visa bureaucracy and deterring more taxation,” in response to World Travel & Tourism Council president David Scowsill.
Speaking on the Cruise Shipping Miami Conference, Scowsill complimented the cruise sector for creating a vital and rapidly growing contribution to the worldwide tourism industry but called on it to come back in conjunction with other sectors of the industry to talk with “one voice”.
He also known as at the industry to make sure visa processing and taxes, which support growth, remain high at the agenda when discussing policy with governments all over the world.
Scowsill explained: “Visa processes are needed that are transparent, not pricey and streamlined to enable travellers to head world wide quickly, efficiently and with minimum hassle.
“The cruise sector is asking to open up new markets including China, where a growing middle class is expressing a wish to cruise and notice the arena.
“Lengthy and sophisticated visa processes for potential Chinese, Russian and Indian passengers will hamper that growth.”
WTTC recently undertook a joint study with United Nations World Tourism Organisation to ascertain the commercial value and job creation potential of improvements in visa procedures and policies.
The research showed that improvements within G20 countries could generate as much as 112 million additional tourists, increase tourism receipts by as much as US$ 206 billion and add five million jobs over three years.
The findings were tabled on the meeting of the G20 ministers of tourism on the WTTC meeting in Mexico last May and the declaration from that meeting was submitted to the G20 Leaders.
It was the 1st time tourism have been included within the G20 World Leaders’ Declaration.
Scowsill added: “Leaders are starting to get the message but Governments ought to know the way much revenue they’re missing out on by not having progressive visa policies.”
He went directly to congratulate the cruise industry on being the fastest-growing sector of tourism.
CLIA industry outlooks forecasts 20.9 million passengers will take a cruise in 2013 – a rise of three.3 per cent on passenger numbers in 2012.
The worldwide cruise marketplace for 2013 is estimated to be worth US$36 billion – up 4.8 per cent on last year.
Total worldwide cruise capacity in 2013 should be around 439,000 passengers – a rise of 3 per cent on 2012.
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