What's Happening?
The Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence is urging a shift towards sustainable shore excursions in cruise tourism. During a webinar with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, Aquila emphasized the need for destinations to actively design shore experiences
that balance economic growth with environmental responsibility. Ambra Attus, Aquila's Director of Impact, Growth and Development, highlighted the increasing demand from cruise guests for immersive, high-end experiences, presenting an opportunity for destinations to enhance offerings and boost local economic impact. Aquila has developed tools to help destinations and operators integrate sustainability principles into their operations, aiming to create experiences that are engaging for guests, economically viable for operators, and beneficial for communities.
Why It's Important?
The push for sustainable shore excursions is significant as cruise tourism continues to expand globally. By embedding sustainability into shore experience design, destinations can ensure long-term positive impacts on local economies and environments. This approach aligns with the growing scrutiny on tourism's environmental and cultural impacts, and the need for equitable economic distribution. As cruise lines set ambitious environmental goals, including net-zero emissions, the onshore experience becomes crucial in the industry's sustainability narrative. Destinations that adopt these practices stand to benefit from increased visitor spending and stronger community engagement.
What's Next?
Aquila's framework encourages community participation in the development of shore excursions, which can lead to stronger economic retention and improved environmental stewardship. As cruise lines continue to advance their environmental performance, the focus will likely shift more towards sustainable onshore offerings. Destinations and operators may increasingly collaborate to design experiences that meet the evolving expectations of cruise guests while supporting local economies and ecosystems.
