“Travel advisors must prepare to be much more knowledgeable about the cruise industry’s environmental record and be able to explain and defend that record to a new generation of clients” said Adam Goldstein, vice chairman of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and CLIA's global chairman at the CLIA's annual Cruise360 conference held in Fort Lauderdale in early April.
With the growing concerns for the environment and sustainability, consumers are increasingly seeking environmentally responsible brands. They are asking what the industry is doing for the environment, and that increasingly could influence sales discussions.
When asked about the cruise industry’s sustainability efforts, are you, as a travel adviser, prepared with answers?
Here are quick and interesting facts to share with your customers on actions taken by the cruise industry:
• The cruise industry never discharges untreated wastewater into the ocean.
• The cruise industry recycles 60% more waste per person than the average person does on land – such as re‐purposing of waste generated onboard and converting recycled cooking oil into onboard energy.
• CLIA has announced a historic global cruise industry commitment to reduce the rate of carbon emissions across the industry fleet by 40% by 2030.
• The cruise industry partners with world‐class organisations like the UNICEF, World Wildlife Fund, UNESCO and others to ensure the health of the oceans and communities we visit.
• Some cruise lines will no longer offer plastic straws, and the others will eliminate single‐use plastics by 2022.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)’s membership offers a globally recognised online training and accreditation programme – specially designed for travel agents – with modules dedicated to cruising related topics, river cruising and key destinations.
Visit www.cliaasia.org to join. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest cruise news.