MADRID — The World Travel and Tourism Council has called on the CDC to stop “singling out” the cruise industry with what it calls harmful and unnecessary measures.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, made the following comments at the Fitur trade fair taking place this week in Madrid:

“While we welcome the expiration of the CDC’s conditional sail order, its decision to continue elevated travel health notices is nonsensical.

“The cruise industry has proven time and again that its enhanced health and safety protocols consistently achieve significantly lower rates of COVID-19 occurrence than onshore.

“WTTC calls upon the CDC to stop singling out the cruise industry with harmful and unnecessary measures. Cruise lines have an excellent record for health and safety, and cruising continues to offer extraordinary travel experiences.”

The CDC’s Framework for Conditional Sailing Order expired Jan. 15, 2022 and the CDC said it would not renew it, instead allowing cruise lines to opt in to the health and safety protocols.

As CLIA noted at the time, the CDC’s decision to allow cruise lines to participate voluntarily in the risk mitigation program shows the cruise companies’ “unwavering commitment” to ensuring the highest level of COVID-19 health and safety protocols onboard cruise ships.