The survey is part of a worldwide initiative to harness the insight of frontline travel advisors, whose input will help shape future trade resources and training materials.

It included questions gauging how well-informed agents feel on sustainability issues, what areas are of interest to their clients, and what tools they need to lift their understanding.

CLIA managing director in Australasia Joel Katz says sustainability issues would become increasingly important for travel agents as cruise lines headed towards net zero carbon cruising.

‘An enormous amount of work is underway to shape the cruise industry of the future, and we need to include travel agents on the path forward,’ Katz says. ‘We are encouraging all our agent members to fill in this survey, tell us what’s important to their clients, and let us know how we can better support them.’

The survey was sent to all CLIA travel agents through CLIA’s weekly e-newsletter. Responses from New Zealand travel agents will be collated alongside those of CLIA agents from across Australia, North America, Europe and Asia.