Cruise Tourism and Sustainability in the Mediterranean. Destination Venice

Stefania Skonieczny,Vincenzo Asero

doi:10.5772/intechopen.71459

Abstract

During recent decades, cruise tourism has seen enormous growth in both passenger numbers and destinations. The downside of this growth is the negative impact on environment and society. This is even more true, if the destination considered has a fragile ecosystem. Associating the paradigm of sustainable development with the practice of cruise tourism might represent a solution to the problems faced by the industry. However, although cruise industry has apparently embraced sustainable good practices, a number of issues are still critical. This chapter explores the topic considering the case of Venice and its role as home port for cruise tourism in the Mediterranean area. Venice special legislation on tourist cruises and the debate on cruise ships in the Venetian lagoon are examined to highlight critical factors and remedies. Much remains to be done to balance the rapidly growing demand for cruising against its negative environmental impacts on this fragile city. The case of Venice shows how cruise tourism is a complex issue in relation to the sustainability paradigm. Indeed, the controversies stem from the different points of view of the various actors involved in the market--tourists, cruise companies, local administrations, suppliers, local companies and environmental and heritage protection associations just to mention a few--which identify benefits and costs of cruise industry in different ways and timespan.

Highlights

Tourism is recognised as a global industry and considered a substantial contributor to the development of countries
Cruise tourism can be defined as a luxurious form of travelling, involving an all-inclusive holiday on a cruise ship of at least 48 hours, with a set and specific itinerary, in which the cruise ship calls at several ports or cities
Klein [6] highlighted that in order to keep the cruise industry focused on the issue of sustainability, it is important that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other interest groups redouble their efforts in the areas of media management, influencing legislative processes

Summary

Introduction

Tourism is recognised as a global industry and considered a substantial contributor to the development of countries. 94 Mobilities, Tourism and Travel Behavior - Contexts and Boundaries while negative impacts are kept to a minimum These latter may include degradation of the environment, pollution, waste of resources, disturbance to wildlife and landscapes, cultural commodification and trivialisation, displacement of host communities and introduction of undesirable activities [1]. For this reason, there is a general consensus that associating the principles of sustainable development with the practice of tourism might represent a solution to the problems faced by the industry. The intention is to identify the role of environmental values and sustainability in the cruise industry

Background

Cruise traffic in the Mediterranean area

Destination Venice

Findings

Conclusion and implications