Expedition cruise leaders question current sustainability claims
Executives acknowledged environmental shortcomings as an industry network introduced guidance for discussing responsible-tourism progress.
Polar Latitudes Expeditions founder John McKeon said the expedition cruise industry should not currently describe itself as sustainable, citing daily fuel consumption of 12 tonnes. He said he expects the sector to become sustainable in a decade or two, while emphasizing that it has not reached that point.
Oceanwide Expeditions chief executive Rémi Bouysset said he believes there is a degree of greenwashing in the industry. Oceanwide also operates a pollution-offsetting effort connected to a reforestation program in Brazil, according to a report about the company’s initiative.
Separately, the Expedition Cruise Network introduced a framework intended to give travel agents clearer language when discussing operators’ progress on responsible tourism. The framework focuses on how that progress is communicated while industry figures raise concerns about portraying expedition cruising as sustainable in its current form.