Best Practices for Cruise Destinations: Building Community Support through Port Readiness Planning
Abstract: In 2004, the International Ecotourism Society reported that over 1.2 million passengers travelled to polar regions by cruise ship raising concerns about the carrying capacity of these destinations. Policy makers point out that in general the planning and development of cruise tourism is just beginning to be recognized arguing that there is a need for more integrated coastal management strategies that foster a process through which decisions are made for sustainable use, development and protection of areas and resources. In Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada’s most easterly Province, a 19% growth rate in cruise passengers from 2004 to 2009 resulted in an overall direct and indirect economic impact that surpassed CAD$10.7 million. The Cruise Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (CANAL) was incorporated in 2002 to promote and co-ordinate the development and operations of the cruise ship industry.
The mandate of CANAL is to elevate the cruise ship industry to a new level, to meet the demands of the global cruise market and position Newfoundland and Labrador as a truly unique and distinctive destination for adventure/ecotourism, south/north, trans-Atlantic and home porting cruises. In an effort to better respond to the growth of the industry, CANAL launched a Port Readiness Program in May 2005. The aim of the program is to improve the quality of service and increase the number of cruise ship calls to provincial ports by informing communities of the opportunities for local revenue generation, employment enhancement, and excursion planning. In many instances, communities are not aware of the potential economic benefits from the industry or how best to meet the expectations of arriving cruise ships to ensure the overall sustainability of the industry. As Director of the Port Readiness Program, Dr. John Hull will provide a summary of the activities associated with the three-year program and its eventual growth to all of eastern Canada and northern Europe. He will also provide recommendations on how this program can be adapted to a New Zealand context.
Biography: John is an Associate Director and Senior Lecturer at the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute based at AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand. His present research addresses sustainable tourism in peripheral regions with a specific focus on strategic planning and management as well as community-based tourism development. John has worked on tourism projects in North America, Europe, the Middle East, South America, Africa, and Asia. Past clients include the UNWTO, UNCBD, UNEP, UNESCO, World Bank, Nordic Council, European Tourism Research Institute, Commission on Environmental Cooperation, Canadian Tourism Commission, Tourism Atlantic, and Parks Canada. In New Zealand, Dr Hull is working on a seafood trail for Top of the South Island and on a regional tourism plan in the Matakana Region, north of Auckland.
