169 hear every day about the pressure of the cruise sector on the local communities and we cannot ignore that. We need to go deep into the community, share our knowledge, improve communication and foster dialogue because we must build a more balanced relationship between ports, cities, cruise lines and citizens.” Fellow panelist Abigail Crossley, senior manager of global sourcing and shore excursions at Carnival Corporation, argued that it is “critical” for cruise lines to engage with ports and locals when designing onshore experiences to minimise the negative impact of guests in destinations. “It’s about looking at how we can manage the guest experience, making sure we include the highlights of the destinations but also move people around so we’re not causing congestion and overcrowding,” she said. “If we work together, we can align all the different products we’re going to be offering, and we can create a better story that markets the destination more comprehensively so everyone benefits from cruise, not just the main attractions.” Managing growing passenger numbers will be crucial to driving sustainable cruise tourism in the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas, said José Sánchez, director of Agenda AIVP 2030, projects and content at AIVP. Sánchez also gave an update on the second phase of the AIVP-MedCruise working group, which is focusing on two key priorities to enhance port-city interactions. The first aim is to evaluate cruise lines’ community engagement strategies, while the second priority is to develop flow management solutions for port cities experiencing high visitor volumes. Mark Robinson, general manager of BC Tours, also backed the call for improved communication between the various stakeholders, saying it could lessen the impact of large ships on local transportation networks, the availability of guides, overcrowding at attractions and more. In another session, panellists discussed how investing in port infrastructure could help to improve the onshore experience for both guests and locals. They advised ports to build well-designed terminals with “Cartagena offered not only a stunning backdrop steeped in history and culture, but also a compelling example of how strategic vision and collaboration can transform a port into a leading cruise destination,” said Theodora Riga, president of MedCruise. “In a world defined by constant change, the greatest challenge for our ports and destinations is to identify future trends and determine how best to respond to them.” Theodora Riga president of MedCruise Photo: Rebecca Gibson Photo: Rebecca Gibson Cartagena has a modern amphitheatre, which hosts regular performances throughout the year and overlooks the city’s cruise port and marina
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