Published by Chris Nicolaides, MBA, PhD

Despite these challenging times in Europe and in Mediterranean, the cruise tourism is making an increasingly significant contribution to Mediterranean countries economy, by sustaining jobs in European shipyards, jobs onboard cruise ships, related to cruise tourism employment (technical, provisions, services), creating employment in Mediterranean ports and acting as a catalyst for European tourism.

These impressive results clearly show the social and economic importance of the cruise
sector to Mediterranean as a whole. However, there are significant potential obstacles to future growth and the region will face some challenging years ahead. These challenges include not just the economic crisis, but also issues such as political uncertainty, rising fuel costs and environmental issues. Unless there is a combined effort by cruise industry and regulators (environmental bodies & organizations, port authorities, regions, etc) to overcome these issues the steady growth the sector has experienced over the last decade could be seriously threatened.

The cruise industry depends on high levels of natural environment quality and sociocultural heritage at destinations. However, if not properly managed, tourism has the potential to degrade these same assets. There is a growing awareness that the positive impacts of tourism can only be sustained if the potential negative effects of tourism can be minimized. The majority of cruise lines have the ability to offer fantastic guest experiences relies on a clean and healthy marine environment, and the well-being of the destinations (ports & nearby municipalities) they visit. The major cruise lines, visit over 500 destinations around the world, having the responsibility to protect these places, to ensure the future of cruise business and because it is the right thing to do. Cruise Lines focused on the drivers of energy, such as ship speed, itinerary planning of individual sailings, heating, ventilation and air conditioning usage, lighting, water management, and behavioral changes among cruise guests and employees.

The environmental friendly cruise port and the readiness to provide environmental management solutions to the cruise lines, considered as preferable cruise port/destination worldwide.

Cruise ports provide a key interface between cruise ships and the destination. As a result, they have the potential to impact many aspects of the sustainability of the cruise tourism industry. Cruise ports should:

• Enable cruise ships to pursue sustainable approaches through provision of appropriate infrastructure, while establishing incentives to encourage cruise line sustainability
• This involves assessing, managing, and monitoring the impacts of their own operations, providing an example of best practice for others
• Ensure that efficient, sustainable transport linkages exist between the port and the destination
• Design cruise terminal buildings to be robust, flexible, and fit for purpose, providing high quality, healthy internal environments while minimizing environmental impacts throughout construction and operation, and,
• Develop collaborative relationships, such as integrated supply chains, destination partnerships, cooperation with cruise lines, and knowledge sharing networks between all of the major actors in the region.

Pursuing sustainable strategies by the Cruise Ports can to improve staff health, motivation and productivity, reduce lifecycle costs, and enhance the attractiveness of the port and the competitiveness of cruise port operations.

Cruise destinations as well, need to develop and manage tourism-related activities and services in a way that ensures their long term viability as a tourist destination. Destinations, and attractions and facilities associated with them, should:

• Develop and implement systems to manage and monitor their impacts.
• Engage their supply chains, setting performance demands while supporting suppliers to drive sustainability improvements.
• Implement measures to maximize socio-economic benefits resulting from cruise tourism in the region, such as employing local labor and suppliers, and involvement with surrounding communities.
• Improve the environmental consequences of their activities, by enabling and encouraging sustainable travel, sourcing sustainable materials and food, minimizing production of waste and emissions of light, air and water pollution and maximizing efficiency of energy and water consumption.
• Ensure that visitor satisfaction is maximized, through staff motivation, addressing overcrowding issues, responsible marketing activities, feedback mechanisms, and the development of high quality shore excursions.
• Implement strategies to minimize costs through resource efficiency and,
• Preserve the distinctive character associated with their cultural heritage, landscape attractiveness, and sensitive habitats and ecosystems.

Different strategies will be appropriate in different cases & circumstances. The most appropriate initiatives & solutions in a specific context will depend on the most significant current impacts, the potential cost/benefit, local/regional priorities, and the people & organizations involved. Each option must be explored and analyzed, its relative merits considered, and appropriate means of implementation established.

In order to increase the sustainability of the cruise industry, it is essential for the multiple participants involved to collaborate. By working together, it is possible to continually evolve approaches which achieve benefits for all involved parties, while enhancing the reputation of ports and destinations for sustainability.

Sustainable development is not only a goal to be achieved – it is a process of change.