Big interview A new
A transport policy expert who has worked in leadership roles at the International Air Transport Association for over a decade, including serving as assistant director for EU
affairs, Marie-Caroline Laurent is the newly appointed director general for Cruise Line International Association in Europe during a tumultuous period for travel and tourism. Abi Millar speaks to her about moving into the sector, the challenges facing European operators and Laurent’s priorities for the coming year.
challenge T
he prevailing narrative around the cruise industry is so often a story of despair. It has been heard many times how the pandemic has affected the sector – the stories of devastating financial losses, Covid-19 outbreaks on board ships and empty ‘ghost’ ships marooned in the English Channel. Even prior to the pandemic, negative incidents surrounding cruises were typically the ones to make headlines. And with climate change becoming harder and harder to ignore, the cruise sector is frequently positioned as one of the bad guys in a much bigger story.
In short, the things that make the cruise sector so attractive – the sightseeing, the adventure, the on-board experiences – are sometimes in danger of being obscured by a relentless stream of bad news. That is why Marie-Caroline Laurent, the new director general for the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) in Europe, wants to help the industry to tell its story on its own terms.
“There are endless untold tales of people who work for the industry or whose livelihoods are supported by it,” she says. “There are stories of collaborations with the great shipyards of Europe to build these magnificent, future-proofed cruise ships, and of our partnerships with cruise destinations to support responsible, sustainable tourism. There is huge potential for the future as industry innovations are emerging every day.” Laurent, a transport policy expert who assumed the role on 15 November 2021, comes to CLIA from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). It is undoubtedly a tough time for travel and tourism, whether you are talking about air travel or maritime. That said, predictions do look brighter for the year ahead, and as the pandemic starts to recede, the whole industry should see some recovery.
8 World Cruise Industry R orld Cruise Industry Review /
www.worldcruiseindustryreview.com
CLIA
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65
