Is Cruise Tourism the Future of Coastal Economies?
Cruising to Growth: Blue Tourism and Sustainability Tourism, including cruise tourism, is an integral component of many island and coastal nations’ plans to grow their blue economy. The industry supports millions of workers directly and indirectly and is a crucial source of income for many otherwise underdeveloped parts of the world. Already trying to shake off its pandemic-era losses, it must also transform itself structurally to thrive in an era of climate action and e-tourism.
- What are some of the technological advances that can make sustainable blue tourism a possibility?
- How does blue tourism affect the coastal and island communities that depend on it, and is it a truly symbiotic relationship?
- What new models of tourism management and novel forms of travel experience show promise for the industry’s future?
Panellists:
- Alexis Papathanassis, Rector and Professor, Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, Germany
- Angelos F. Vlachos, Chief Executive Officer, Kavala Port Authority S.A., Greece Moderator Malshini
- Senaratne, Assistant Head of Department, University of Seychelles, Seychelles
Summary: Cruise Tourism & Sustainability
Date: 2024-05-01
Subject: Analysis of expert discussion on cruise tourism, sustainability, and technological advancements.
Sources: Excerpts from “Is Cruise Tourism the Future of Coastal Economies?”
Executive Summary:
This briefing document analyses a panel discussion featuring Dr. Alexis Papathanassis and Dr. Angelos Blachos, experts in sustainable tourism and port management. The discussion centres on the complexities of cruise tourism, highlighting the need for a holistic approach to sustainability (environmental, social, and economic). Key themes include the role of technology in increasing efficiency, the regulatory and policy challenges, the importance of stakeholder engagement and community benefit, and the need for a shift in mindset towards tourism that prioritises liveability.
Key Themes and Analysis:
- Defining Sustainability:
- Holistic Approach: Dr. Alexis Papathanassis emphasises that sustainability must consider environmental, social, and economic dimensions. Focusing solely on one aspect (e.g., emissions) risks creating negative impacts elsewhere. He states: “If we fail to consider them all three what we’re effective doing is by saving on one side we are actually creating negative effects on the other.”
- Environmental Complexity: The environmental dimension goes beyond just emissions. Ecology is more than just emissions.
- Balance is Key: The conversation constantly emphasises the need for balance between different interests and priorities in making cruise tourism sustainable.
- The Role of Technology:
- Energy Efficiency as a Primary Driver: Dr. Papathanassis posits that energy efficiency is a critical link between profitability and sustainability in the cruise industry. He states: “The common denominator between sustainability and profitability is Energy Efficiency, especially for cruise ships”.
- Technological Examples: Technological advancements such as route optimisation, digital twins of ships (for simulating onboard activities and reducing waste), are crucial to increase efficiency. He highlights that digital twins can simulate “what’s happening on board from all areas from navigation down to crowd control down to food consumption…”.
- Smart Technologies Impact Productivity: Smart technologies are ultimately increasing productivity, which presents opportunities for optimisations and a shift in required skill sets.
- Cybersecurity Concerns: A reliance on technology raises cybersecurity risks, which need to be addressed, while maintaining human involvement in certain areas.
- Regulatory and Policy Challenges:
- Investment in Decarbonisation: Dr. Blachos points out the huge financial investments required for decarbonisation projects. He states: “The decarbonisation project requires huge amounts of investment”. This investment gap can limit the pace of transition in the industry.
- Port Infrastructure Costs: Smaller ports lack the financial resources to develop the necessary infrastructure. They depend on national or European funding.
- Regulatory Implementation: National authorities are sometimes hesitant to implement policies due to vested interests, thus creating a barrier to sustainability efforts.
- Power Imbalance: The cruise industry is dominated by a few major corporations, creating an uneven playing field for smaller ports. Dr. Blachos highlights this: “you have two let’s say major groups… representing like 80% of the global… activity. On the other side, you have hundreds…they do not have the strength to…fight.”
- Need for Port Organisation: Ports need to organise themselves to gain equal footing with the major cruise lines.
- Stakeholder Engagement and Community Benefit:
- Port as a ‘Gift’ to Communities: Dr. Blachos notes that for some ports, cruise tourism is a way to give back to the community, rather than a primary revenue source. This idea should be embraced and prioritised.
- Community Involvement: It is imperative that communities are engaged in tourism planning and development to ensure it benefits them. Dr. Blachos: “no activity can take place without the full engagement of all interested parties namely all the parts of the community”.
- Diversified Tourism Portfolio: Tourism destinations need diversified tourism sectors (not a monoculture) to maximise the benefits of cruise tourism and enhance economic development. Dr. Papathanassis “It will benefit when it’s competitive as a tourist destination”.
- Business-to-Business Opportunities: Destinations should explore business-to-business income opportunities through cruise operators.
- Shift in Mindset:
- Beyond Passenger Numbers: The discussion emphasises moving beyond just counting tourists to consider the broader impacts and benefits of tourism. Dr. Papathanassis says: “tourism is not about just passenger or tourist numbers”.
- Liveability is Key: The key focus should be on creating liveable environments for everyone, not just short-term visitors.
- Inclusive Tourism: The need to consider everyone as a ‘guest’ (including locals, ex-pats, and other longer-term visitors), and considering their experience, was noted.
Quotes of Note:
- “If we fail to consider them all three what we’re effective doing is by saving on one side we are actually creating negative effects on the other.” – Dr. Alexis Papathanassis on the three dimensions of sustainability.
- “The common denominator between sustainability and profitability is Energy Efficiency, especially for cruise ships” – Dr. Alexis Papathanassis on energy efficiency in cruise operations.
- “The decarbonisation project requires huge amounts of investment” – Dr. Angelos Blachos, on the financial barriers to sustainability.
- “no activity can take place without the full engagement of all interested parties namely all the parts of the community” – Dr. Angelos Blachos, on the necessity of community collaboration.
- “tourism is not about just passenger or tourist numbers” – Dr. Alexis Papathanassis, on the need for a broader view of tourism.
Key Insights and Recommendations:
- Cruise tourism has the potential to contribute to blue economies, but only when sustainability is approached holistically.
- Technological advancements are crucial for increasing efficiency and reducing environmental impact, but also present challenges regarding cybersecurity and skill shifts in the industry.
- Addressing regulatory and policy barriers, such as funding shortages and imbalanced power dynamics, is essential.
- Genuine stakeholder engagement and community benefit must be prioritised to ensure sustainable and equitable tourism practices.
- A fundamental shift in mindset about tourism, focusing on liveability and inclusivity, is needed.
Conclusion:
The conversation highlights the complexities of cruise tourism and its impact on coastal communities. Achieving a sustainable future for this industry will require a coordinated effort by all stakeholders, an emphasis on technology, a willingness to address regulatory and policy challenges, and a conscious effort to prioritize the wellbeing of local communities and the liveability of the destinations.