7 2 ASSOCI ATION HIGHL IGHTS Creating a sustainable future Aimilia Papachristou tells Rebecca Gibson how MedCruise collaborates with partners to help cruise port members achieve their environmental goals Finding ways to reduce emissions, develop renewable fuels and increase sustainability are now top priorities for organisations across the maritime industry as they seek to play their part in slowing down climate change. Aimilia Papachristou, secretary general of MedCruise, explains how the association is helping more than 140 ports and 34 associate members in 21 countries across Africa, Asia and Europe to minimise the environmental impact of cruise operations. Why is boosting sustainability and minimising environmental impact an important goal for businesses operating in the cruise industry? The global cruise industry has experienced remarkable growth since 1990, adapting to guest requests to successfully create specialised products that meet the diverse vacation needs of various target groups. Cruise ports and local communities have welcomed this growth and developed marketing strategies to ensure they are included in cruise itineraries. Over the past few years, ports and destinations have increasingly focused on ‘going green’ due to climate change and the need to comply with requirements such as the International Maritime Organization’s agenda for reducing greenhouse gases, the EU Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Directive, the new Port Reception Facilities Directive, and the EU Sulphur Directive. Consequently, sustainability is now a key condition for the growth of cruise activities worldwide. MedCruise member ports such as Libson in Portugal are popular choices for Mediterranean itineraries
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