The focus of World Tourism Day this year is to promote sustainable tourism through green investment.
At the Expedition Cruise Network, we want to champion the responsible operators who are mindful of their impact and actively engaging with local projects and celebrate their work. Many of our members are already involved with initiatives and campaigns that strive to make expedition cruising a more sustainable way to explore some of the most pristine and vulnerable parts of our planet. Citizen science projects are very common across expedition cruises, allowing guests to take part in research that provides invaluable data for scientific projects.
These are just some of the initiatives taking place:
Maple Leaf Adventures is part of the Marine Debris Removal Initiative, which started in 2020 and is on a mission to clean up debris along a 150km coastline of British Columbia.
Photo credit @Simon Ager and @Maple leaf Adventures, Marine Debris Removal Initiative
AE Expeditions became the first cruise company to be awarded B Corp status this year, demonstrating their position as a purpose-driven organisation. Community impact is a key component of the B Corp assessment and shows a genuine commitment to responsible and respectful travel
Quark Expeditions launched Tundra to Table, which is an innovative concept that shows how an expedition cruise company can incorporate local chefs and destination knowledge through the food it serves. The Inuit Culinary Experience allows local chefs in the Arctic to showcase the food and culture of Greenland and Nunavut. Profits generated by the program support food-focused initiatives in the Arctic.
Lindblad Expeditions achieved carbon neutrality in 2019 with the founder Lars-Eric Lindblad championing his belief that travel to difficult-to-reach places encourages a desire to preserve and protect the planet. Minimising food waste is a top priority for the company and have reduced food waste by 45% through a number of measures. These include prioritising plated meals over a buffet service, careful menu planning and presenting their ‘War on Food Waste’ initiative to guests.
HX Hurtigruten Expeditions supports 41 environmental, cultural and social projects in 11 different countries. These range from helping endangered orcas in the Pacific Northwest to securing safe spaces for vulnerable Greenlandic children. In 2018, they were also the first expedition company to ban non-essential single-use plastics throughout their operation. HX stopped using heavy fuel over ten years ago and built two new hybrid-powered expedition ships.
Clean Up Svalbard is a joint effort by AECO (Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators) members to remove waste from the shores of Svalbard. Almost 20 years ago, an expedition cruise company saw an opportunity to help clean up marine debris around Svalbard during voyages. Clean up Svalbard was born, and more AECO members and local organisations got involved. In recent years, about 20 tons of waste have been removed every summer from beaches in Svalbard by passengers and crew from expedition. Studies in 2016 and 2017 showed that up to 80% of the waste comes from the fishing industry.
Photos below from the beach clean onboard HX Hurtigruten Expedition to Svalbard, photo credit @HX Hurtigruten Expeditions
Akvile, CEO of the Expedition Cruise Network, said: 'While the race to find suitable fuels and reduce carbon footprint is ongoing; it is exciting to see how our members continue to future-proof this sector beyond environmental impact. We all have a role to play, from making environmentally aware choices in our personal lives to guiding our clients toward sustainable travel options.’ Happy World Tourism Day!
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