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Kelly Craighead visit a highlight of Australia’s October Cruise MonthKelly Craighead visit a highlight of Australia’s October Cruise Month

Outgoing Cruise Lines International Association’s President/CEO Kelly Craighead was a major attraction for October’s Cruise Month Down Under.

Helen Hutcheon, Australasia correspondent

October 11, 2024

1 Min Read
Kelly Craighead with NSW Minister for Tourism John Graham, left, and Joel Katz at the CLIA/Business Sydney lunchPHOTO: HELEN HUTCHEON

Craighead, who has led CLIA since January 2019, is leaving at the end of the year.

She attended the World Travel & Tourism Council’s 24th global summit in Perth and was taken on a familiarisation of the Top End by CLIA Australasia MD Joel Katz.

CLIA/Business Sydney

On Friday she was co-guest speaker with New South Wales Minister for Tourism John Graham at a luncheon at the Museum of Contemporary Art, overlooking Sydney Harbour, that was jointly hosted by CLIA Australasia and Business Sydney.

There has been an outcry from the industry that cruise was not included in the preliminary NSW Visitor Economy Strategy.

However, Graham told guests that the NSW government has reinforced the important role cruise plays in the NSW visitor economy ‘which will be made clear in the finalised strategy.’

He said cruise is ‘an incredible’ industry that contributes A$2.75b to the local economy.

Kelly said the cruise industry is ‘incredibly strong’ and bigger than before 2019.

She said the most notable trend is expedition cruising.

‘People are looking for authentic experiences,’ she said.

Craighead said river cruising is also growing every year.

She put value for money and the ease of booking a sea holiday as reasons for the big increase in multi-generational travel.

Related:Kelly Craighead to depart CLIA at year's end

‘Looking forward, I would like the industry to be seen as the leader of sustainability tourism,’ she said.

About the Author

Helen Hutcheon

Australasia correspondent

Helen Hutcheon did her cadetship on a shipping magazine and worked in P&O’s Sydney office for seven years as a public relations journalist.

For 19 years she was deputy editor of Travel Week, which was Australia’s leading trade newspaper that covered major local and international industry events.

In 2008 the late legendary Rama Rebbapragada presented her with an award from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd ‘in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the cruising industry.’

In 2010 she won the Neil Frazer Award for ‘outstanding contribution to the cruise industry,’ elevating her to CLIA Australasia’s hall of fame.

She has been the Australasia correspondent for Seatrade Cruise Review since 1997 and for Seatrade Insider (now Seatrade Cruise News) since its launch in 2000.

 

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