Destination sustainability tops cruise tourism agenda

Innovation and sustainability are the key objectives these days for cruise tourism, and this spring's Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum (PSTF), themed "The Med: A Compelling Need for New Marquee Ports and Destinations," is about to address them.

The biennial event is heading to Iraklio this year for its eighth outing, with industry leaders gathering to discuss opportunities and challenges facing the sector, and a particular focus on managing overcrowding and promoting emerging destinations.

In 2023, cruising returned to pre-pandemic year-round operations and generated a total global economic impact of $168.6 billion, an increase of 9% from 2019. A total of 31.7 million passengers went on a cruise in 2023, marking a 7% increase from 29.7 million passengers. in 2019. Their number is estimated to have reached 32 million in 2024 and is expected to rise steadily in subsequent...