If there is one segment of the travel, tourism and hospitality sector that will need help more than others in the months to come, it's probably the cruise industry.
It will be required in various ways: financially, physically (in terms of implementing social distance and enhanced cleanliness protocols) and, perhaps more than any other area, rebuilding its reputation.
The sector has taken a huge hit in this regard, with deaths on-board ships, operators sending cruises on voyages after the pandemic was classified by health agencies and disembarking passengers into destinations (such as Sydney, Australia).
Owners have a lot of work to do if they are to get back to regaining the trust of some of their passengers and, crucially, inspiring those that were already sceptical about cruising that it is a trip worth considering in the future.
In this episode of Destination X, tourism specialist
Doug Lansky
talks in detail through the issues that the sector faces and how the reputation problem runs a lot deeper than the problems triggered by the coronavirus outbreak.
Getting business in order – Cruising's best chance of recovery