By
Laura Hyde |
Expedition Cruise Network (ECN) is launching a new initiative designed to help travel advisors understand and communicate the responsible tourism practices of expedition cruise operators to their guests.
The ECN Responsible Expedition Framework will annually evaluate participating operators across six areas of responsible expedition cruising to provide a detailed report highlighting the operator’s strengths, as well as areas for further improvement.
The six areas of assessment include: certifications and external validation; sustainable management and governance; environmental stewardship; community, cultural and destination stewardship; guest education and expedition ethos; and positive impact and conservation contribution.
Eleven expedition cruise operators have completed the inaugural assessment of 35 questions to become the first participants. These include 60South, Aranui Cruises, Australis Cruises, Aqua Expeditions, Golden Galapagos, HX Expeditions, Oceanwide Expeditions, Ponant, Poseidon Expeditions, Scenic Eclipse and UnCruise Adventures.
All 11 operators have been rated and placed at one of five stages: ‘Emerging’, which means they are in an early stage of developing and formalising their responsible tourism approach; ‘Developing’, which indicates operators have established responsible tourism initiatives and are actively expanding their work; ‘Integrated’, which denotes they have already integrated responsible expedition principles across many areas of the organisation; ‘Embedded’, which means they are demonstrating measurable and consistent commitments; and ‘Contributing’, which is awarded to those who are helping to advance responsible expedition cruising through leadership, innovation and meaningful contributions to support conservation, scientific research, communities, and wider industry practice. Participating operators will repeat the assessment annually, allowing them to demonstrate their progress over time.
“Expedition cruising takes place in some of the world’s most environmentally sensitive destinations and brings travellers into contact with remote communities, wildlife, and fragile ecosystems,” said Akvile Marozaite, CEO and co-founder of ECN. “It is in the interests of our entire sector that these places are visited carefully, respectfully and responsibly.
“Travel advisors told us that they wanted a clearer way to understand the work expedition cruise operators are undertaking. Sustainability is an extremely complex subject, particularly within expedition cruising, where an operator can simultaneously function as a hotel, transport provider, tour operator, and educational platform. This new framework brings these different responsibilities together and gives the sector a common language. It will help travel advisors have more informed conversations with their clients while giving participating operators a practical roadmap for continued improvement.”
According to Marozaite, this framework is the first of its kind in the sector.
“Bringing it to life has been one of the most challenging and rewarding projects I have undertaken through ECN,” she said. “I am immensely proud of what ECN has achieved and grateful to every advisor, operator and independent expert who helped us create it. “I think if expedition cruise sellers get it, they will love it. I also think they will be the ones who encourage more ECN members to join up. It is my sincere hope the framework will become one of the reasons to be an ECN member as it offers a nice solution. Operators don’t have to give out their sensitive data, but we’re able to translate it into something travel advisors can fairly and convincingly discuss with and explain to their customers. I really hope every member joins us.”
The ECN Responsible Expedition Framework draws on recognised global sustainability principles, including from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It is a voluntary self-assessment, development and communications tool and does not constitute official certification.
Read more: Expedition cruising is entering a new era, says Akvile Marozaite