The issue of sustainability in the cruise industry should no longer be ignored when selling cruises, agents are reminded.
- Emmy-award winning TV host Jeff Corwin addresses the need to celebrate technological advances in sustainability at the 2024 Clia conference.
- Corwin emphasises that sustainability is a contentious topic, often overlooked due to a lack of awareness about ongoing improvements.
- Agents are encouraged to discuss the economic benefits cruising brings to visited communities, highlighting the financial infusion from cruise tourism.
- Corwin underscores the role of travel agents as vital connectors in fostering environmental stewardship among travellers.
In a crucial discussion at the 2024 Clia conference in Southampton, Jeff Corwin, a prominent nature and adventure ambassador for Princess Cruises, stressed that sustainability should not be the ‘elephant in the room’ when selling cruises. During his address, Corwin highlighted the substantial progress the cruise industry has made in implementing sustainable practices, urging agents to actively share and celebrate these achievements with their clientele.
Corwin pointedly referred to the controversy surrounding sustainability on cruise ships as a ‘lightning bolt’, acknowledging the common criticisms often rooted in misinformation or lack of education regarding the measures being taken to enhance sustainability both on board and ashore. “There is so much work being done in terms of recycling, reducing carbon emissions, and turning waste water into clean water,” Corwin noted, praising the cruise sector as a frontrunner in sustainable innovation compared to land-based venues.
Moreover, Corwin articulated the indispensable value that cruise tourism contributes to the economies of destination communities. He illustrated this by noting how a single cruise docking for one day can inject approximately $3 million into the local economy. Corwin eloquently described the cruise industry’s role as ‘lifeblood’ to these locales, providing essential economic benefits and supporting community development.
The address also involved an appeal to travel agents to extend their influence by guiding travellers towards new destinations. This initiative aims to transform visitors into ‘environmental stewards’, fostering a desire to protect the natural beauty they experience through their journeys. In Corwin’s words: “You can’t protect what you don’t love and you won’t love it if you don’t get to see it, so travel agents are a huge part of that mission.”
Corwin’s insights call for a proactive conversation about sustainability in cruising, recognising both its challenges and triumphs.
