68 INTERVIEW As cruise numbers rise, Bud Darr explains to Alice Chambers how he is committed to advancing safety, sustainability and positive community impact on behalf of CLIA members Expansion meets accountability Cruising is reaching new heights, with passenger numbers projected to rise to 42 million by 2028, according to Bud Darr, president and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Ships are bigger, itineraries more complex and passengers more curious than ever to visit new destinations. At the same time, destinations are dealing with tourism management and rising expectations for sustainable travel. As cruise lines expand their global footprint, they are placing greater emphasis on fostering responsible connections with communities, without compromising operational resilience or safety. We asked Darr how the industry is managing this balancing act. As cruise scales up and itineraries grow more complex, how can the industry preserve authentic connections with local communities while addressing concerns around tourism management? Cruise lines plan itineraries two to three years in advance, giving communities clarity on when ships will arrive and how many visitors to expect, so they can prepare infrastructure and services. That level of predictability isn’t typical of air or land tourism. Cruise is associated with tourism volume due to its visibility, but in cities such as Barcelona, Spain, and Venice, Italy, it represents less than five per cent of overall visitor numbers. Still, we recognise the need to manage tourism and work closely with destinations on mitigation plans, such as our memorandum of understanding with Dubrovnik in Croatia, which includes measures like staggered arrivals, developing tours beyond the Old Town, and supporting programmes that educate visitors on respectful behaviour. High-profile ports like Sydney in Australia offer huge opportunity but come with high costs and regulatory complexity. What lessons can cruise lines and local authorities take from these destinations, and how can collaboration ensure long-term viability? Sydney is in strong demand – 1.3 million cruise passengers visit Sydney CLIA president and CEO Bud Darr (centre) visits Australia for Cruise360 and meetings with cruise line leaders, government representatives and local stakeholders, along with Joel Katz, CLIA’s executive director of Australasia (left) and Niels Wammen-Jensen, CLIA executive vice president of international regions
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