By
Rebecca Gibson |
Global ferry association Interferry has cancelled its annual conference for the first time in its 45-year history due to travel restrictions related to the global Covid-19 pandemic.
The conference was set to be hosted by TT-Line and its Spirit of Tasmania brand in Hobart, Australia from 24-28 October 2020.
“The decision to cancel the 2020 conference was essentially made for us when we were informed that the governments of Australia and Tasmania have shut down their respective borders to international travellers until at least the end of this year,” said Mike Corrigan, CEO of Interferry, in a written update to Interferry members. “We briefly considered trying to move the conference to another location in the world, but with Covid-19’s impact on the globe, international travel anywhere in the world is unlikely for the remainder of this year.
Interferry Board has since invited TT-Line to host the 2023 conference, given that Brittany Ferries has already been chosen to hold the 2021 edition in Santander, Spain, and FRS is managing the 2022 event in Marrakesh, Morocco.
“On behalf of all of us at Interferry, I would like to thank all our sponsors who committed to Hobart,” said Corrigan. “We are hopeful and would sincerely appreciate if all our valued sponsorship partners would carry over their commitments from 2020 to 2021 when we reconvene in Santander.”