Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has expressed concern for the cruise industry being singled out during the coronavirus pandemic. Responding to a refreshed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “No Sail Order” to US ports – that has the potential of lasting up to 100 days – CLIA said the mandate will have “unintended consequences” on the cruise sector.
In a statement, CLIA said the US cruise industry has been “proactive in its escalation of health and sanitation protocols and was one of the first industries to announce a voluntary suspension of operations.”
The cruise organisation said cruising was neither the source nor the cause of the coronavirus or its spread.
“Cruise activity supports multiple sectors of the US economy (transportation, food and beverage, lodging, manufacturing, agriculture, travel agencies and travel agents, plus a broad range of supply chain industries and small businesses) that stretch across the United States,” CLIA said.
Should the suspension of sailing extend well beyond the appropriate time to resume business, the economic impact could be significant given each day of the suspension results in a total economic impact loss of about US$92 million and the loss of more than 300 direct and 620 total American jobs.
Citing a BREA/CLIA Economic Impact Analysis, should the Order remain in place for a year losses will increase and could result in a total economic impact loss to the United States of US$51 billion and 173,000 direct and 343,000 total American jobs.
Read the full CLIA statement here.
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