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Barcelona anti-tourism protesters fire water pistols at visitors | CNN

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Protesters in Barcelona have sprayed visitors with water as part of a demonstration against mass tourism.

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the benefits of tourism, how they help a developing country continue to grow

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Tourism encompasses much more than just leisurely vacations and exploring far-off destinations. In fact, this vast industry plays a significant role in keeping the world economy thriving.

When the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw its devastating effects on the tourism industry. Airports were shut down, hotels were left empty, and online travel agencies experienced a complete halt in revenue.

Like the rest of the world, the travel and tourism industry was in a state of limbo.

As we look to the future, it's important to remember the power of tourism and its impacts on the global economy. In 2023, the tourism sector's global market size is anticipated to exceed 2019, with a market size estimated at $2.29tn.

The impact of tourism on the economy extends beyond generating income and employment. It acts as a growth engine, stimulating investment in infrastructure, promoting sustainable development, and fostering the conservation of cultural and natural heritage. This multifaceted influence demonstrates how tourism is fundamental to global economic development.

In this blog post, we'll explore how tourism contributes to the economy and why it should be a priority for everyone.

How Much Does Tourism Contribute to the Global Economy?

Travel isn't just good for the soul; it's good for the economy. Let's break down the numbers.

Contribution to Global GDP

Exploring the impact of tourism on the economy requires a detailed look at its contribution to the global GDP. This contribution is not only a direct reflection of tourist spending but also an indicator of how tourism stimulates the economy through job creation, infrastructure investment, and a boost to related industries.

In 2019, the travel and tourism industry accounted for 10.4% of global GDP - that's $10 trillion! In 2022, the industry reached 7.6% of GDP.

Not only does this include the direct spending by tourists in hotels, restaurants, and attractions, but it also includes indirect spending in industries such as transportation, shopping, and entertainment.

This data indicates the industry's resilience and potential to bounce back. The travel and tourism industry will continue to contribute to the global economy.

Job Creation

In 2022, the tourism industry supported over 22 million jobs. When people think of tourism-related jobs, they usually think of travel agents, hotel staff, and workers at tourist attractions. However, there are also millions of people around the world who work in tourism and related industries.

The Interconnectedness of the Tourism Industry with Other Industries

The tourism industry is intricately connected to a wide array of other industries.

It's challenging to measure tourism's exact contributions due to the level of fragmentation within the industry. However, its actual values are expected to be far greater than reported. This is because travelers also contribute to non-travel sectors such as retail, recreation, and entertainment.

Tourism is a significant driver of economic prosperity as it contributes to job creation and spurs innovation and investments.

The Relationship Between Tourism and Economic Growth

Given the significant impact of tourism on the global economy, it's important to examine the relationship between tourism and economic growth.

Tourism as a Driver for Economic Growth

Increased demand stimulates the economy by creating jobs in different sectors, from hospitality to transport which brings in more revenue and opportunities for growth within the community.

Zurab Pololikashvili, the secretary general of UNWTO, said, "Global tourism is on track to return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of year. By investing in people and projects that make a difference, we can deliver on the sector's potential to drive growth and opportunity for all."

In tourism, there are jobs that are directly related to tourism and tourism spending; for example, when a tourist travels to Barcelona, they will spend money on hotels, tour guides, and activities.

But there are also those indirectly related to tourism; for instance, when they go to a restaurant in the city or shop at a local store, they contribute to the local economy.

The Multiplier Effect of Tourism

The interconnectedness of tourism also leads to the multiplier effect, which amplifies the economic impact of tourism on a region or country.

The Journal of Risk and Financial Management conducted a study that found "The impact of tourism activity on economic development is determined by the current multiplier mechanism created by the existing revenue-expenditure flow in the sector due to international tourism movements."

Tourism also has a multiplier effect on other industries. For example, suppose a tourist spends money on a hotel room. In that case, the hotel purchases goods and services from other businesses, such as food, linen, and toiletries. These businesses, in turn, purchase goods and services from other companies, and the cycle continues.

This means that the economic impact of tourism is not limited to the tourism industry but spreads across various sectors of the economy. The expenditure of international tourists on tourism can generate income that may result in new revenue streams, investments, savings, and consumption.

The Role of Online Travel Agencies in Promoting Economic Growth

Online travel agencies play an important role in promoting economic growth and development. They help connect travelers with different hotels, flights, and activities.

However, they don't just help them find the right place to stay or flight to book. OTAs also provide travelers with inspiration, knowledge, and insights to help them make the best trip decisions.

Their promotional activities can fastly increase the economic growth of the regions they promote. For instance, OTAs can promote different destinations and activities they may not know. Whether it's a destination in the countryside or a less-traveled area such as many developing countries.

In addition to traditional methods of economic growth in tourism, the importance of exploring sustainable approaches, cannot be overstated. Gain a deeper understanding of this forward-thinking practice, which includes diverse examples and effective implementation strategies, in our in-depth exploration about what is regenerative tourism.

Benefits of Tourism

Tourism provides numerous benefits to economies around the world, playing a crucial role in both local and global contexts. Here are some of the key benefits of tourism:

Economic Growth: Tourism significantly contributes to economic growth by generating income and employment. It accounts for about 10% of global GDP and employs one in ten people worldwide​​. Tourism stimulates local economies through direct spending on goods and services, creating jobs in hotels, restaurants, and other tourism-related businesses.

Job Creation: Tourism creates a wide range of jobs, not only in the tourism sectors such as hospitality and travel services but also in related industries like retail and transportation. In regions with high unemployment rates, tourism can be a vital source of employment​.

Cultural Preservation: Tourism helps preserve cultural heritage by providing financial resources needed for the maintenance of cultural sites and traditions. For instance, entrance fees from tourists visiting heritage sites often fund the preservation and operation of these sites​.

Environmental Conservation: Tourism can support environmental conservation by funding the creation and maintenance of national parks and protected areas. Tourists' demand for natural and historical sites can lead to increased efforts to conserve these areas​​.

Positive Social Effects: The economic benefits of tourism can lead to improved infrastructure and services, such as better roads, healthcare facilities, and education. These improvements benefit not only tourists but also local communities, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Global Awareness and Learning: Tourism encourages global awareness and cross-cultural understanding. By interacting with different cultures, tourists and locals alike can develop a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity, fostering a sense of global community​.

How Does Tourism Affect Developing Countries?

When tourists spend more money when they travel, and the money they spend is reinvested into the local economy, tourism directly impacts the economy.

Tourism increases economic activity. The influx of tourists drives up local businesses' demand for services and products,creating jobs, increasing revenue, and reducing poverty.

Direct benefits include those created by tourism-related activities such as accommodation, transport, and attractions. Indirect benefits come from supporting activities to tourism, such as construction and retailing.

Tourism also benefits developing countries in other ways, such as improving the perception of their country on the global stage and increasing foreign investment.

Challenges and Opportunities for Online Travel Agencies in Emerging Markets

In John Lea's book, Tourism and Developments in the Third World, he discusses how small island communities depend more on foreign tourism than bigger countries. Island tourism can be a lifeline for many people in these places, particularly regarding job creation and economic opportunities.

However, challenges like limited infrastructure, political instability, and lack of local tourism products still exist.

The 5 A's of tourism - attractions, activities, accessibility, accommodation, and amenities, play a significant role in determining the success of tourism in any destination. By improving these areas, emerging markets can better leverage and capitalize on their tourism potential.

Online travel agencies can play a crucial role in driving economic growth in these markets:

They have the potential to access untapped opportunities that are often overlooked.

They can promote lesser-known tourist hotspots with potential.

They can partner with governments and local tourism stakeholders in emerging markets.

They are more agile and better equipped to respond quickly to changing market needs.

They can enable local players to expand their reach, open up new markets, and create economic value.

They can provide a platform for local businesses to showcase their products.

Case Studies of Successful Tourism Development in Developing Countries

South Africa

South Africa is an excellent example of a developing country that has successfully utilized tourism as an integral part of its economic growth plan.

The tourism industry accounts for 3.7% of South Africa's GDP. This is higher than the contribution of agriculture, utilities, and construction.

The country's abundance of natural and cultural resources makes it a popular tourist destination for people worldwide. With its stunning beaches, mountains, and diverse wildlife reserves, it has become one of Africa's most popular tourism destinations.

South African Tourism (SAT) and the Department of Tourism have aligned their strategic plan for 2020-2025 to encourage the growth and development of tourism in South Africa. This includes providing efficient marketing for tourist destinations and improving cooperation between different levels of government in managing tourism.

The accommodation industry's total income in September 2022 increased by 79.3% compared to September 2021. Among all accommodation options, hotels experienced the most significant increase in total income, with a 118.6% rise.

Egypt

Egypt is another great example of a developing country that has seen success in the tourism industry. Egypt's tourism earnings are expected to reach $13.6 billion in 2023.

The Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Issa, aims to achieve an annual growth rate of 25% to 30%. This is part of Egypt's plan to attract 30 million tourists by 2028. They aim to invest $30bn (30,000 rooms) to meet anticipated demand. Additionally, they plan to invest investment in customer experiences.

The focus of the Egyptian government is to offer improved tourism experiences. This includes promoting cultural heritage sites, nature-based tourism activities, and other diverse tourist attractions unique to Egypt.

India

India is another developing country rapidly gaining traction in the tourism industry. India's total contribution to GDP in Travel & Tourism r anked sixth in 2022. Tourism jobs are expected to increase by 8.3%, reaching nearly 35 million employment opportunities.

The Ministry of Tourism launched the Swadesh Darshan scheme to promote theme-based tourism in India and harness its potential for development.

Their goals are to improve the local economies, generate job opportunities, promote industry skill development, increase private sector investment, and conserve local cultural and natural resources.

What Are the Four Economic Impacts of Tourism?

1. Infrastructure Development

Tourism provides the government and private sector with the revenue to invest in the infrastructure required for tourism activities. This includes the construction and renovation of roads, highways, and airports. For example, increased tourism can lead to improved access and transportation networks, which benefit the local economy and travelers alike.

2. Cultural Preservation

Tourism also plays a role in preserving historical sites and cultural traditions. As many visitors worldwide flock to a destination to learn about its history and culture, tourism can help generate sufficient funds for cultural conservation efforts.

3. Natural Resources

Tourism can provide incentives for protecting and preserving natural resources and ecosystems. By introducing sustainable tourism practices, areas with important biodiversity can be better safeguarded against destruction while delivering economic benefits to the local community.

4. Local Entrepreneurship and Small Business Growth

The influx of visitors to a destination can also stimulate the growth of small, locally-owned businesses. Restaurants and retail stores often experience increased profits. At the same time, entrepreneurs can take advantage of new opportunities in the tourism industry.

Leveraging the Power of Tourism for Online Travel Agencies

Online travel agencies play a vital role in the tourism industry, providing the convenience of booking services with just a few clicks. With the right strategies, OTAs can leverage the power of tourism to maximize its economic impact.

Strategies for Maximizing the Positive Economic Impact of Tourism:

There are three strategies for maximizing the positive impact of tourism: understanding the local economy, promoting responsible and sustainable tourism practices, and adapting to evolving trends in the tourism industry.

1. Understand the Local Economy.

To better serve your clients, it's crucial to comprehend how tourism can economically benefit various regions based on the type of travel agency you operate. This knowledge can then aid you in aligning your clients' interests with your business goals.

For example, tourists visiting a region may stimulate local businesses and introduce new products that would otherwise not be available. This can have a ripple effect on the local economy.

2. Promoting Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Practices

The way online travel agencies advertise and promote their services based on responsible and sustainable tourism practices has changed over the years.

OTAs can support this by promoting sustainable and ethical travel opportunities that empower local communities.

For example, an OTA may promote eco-friendly accommodations, sustainable tour operators, and local community initiatives.

3. Adapting to Evolving Trends in the Tourism Industry

Tourists often seek out new experiences, and OTAs can provide information about activities that match their interests.

For example, experiential travel, which focuses on activities such as cultural experiences and outdoor adventures, has been gaining traction in recent years.

Conclusion

The economic impact of tourism is enormous, and the industry has the potential to be a significant driver of global economic growth.

OTA's have an important role to play in the continued success of this sector, and understanding the economic impact that tourism has on their business can help them make smart decisions and continue to grow their business.
Tourism affects not only these agencies but also hotels, airlines, and other related businesses. Additionally, the industry provides many opportunities for growth and development in the tourism sector. As governments worldwide strive to create more sustainable and environmentally conscious development models, the tourism industry can provide a key source of income and job opportunities.

For insights into successful tourism marketing strategies, offering valuable perspectives and case studies and, as we explore the significant economic impact of tourism, it's also important to understand how effective campaigns in tourism can amplify this impact.

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The Economic Impact of Tourism: What You Need to Know - Mize

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In this blog post, we'll explore how tourism contributes to the economy and why it should be a priority for everyone.

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Describes how tourism dependent countries (and states) are venerable to economic troubles because if something (like a global pandemic) lowers tourism, they will suffer and likely won't be able to do anything about it. This raises the question of if it's even worth for some countries to limit tourism, or if the lasting/long term effects would damage their economy too much for them to even enjoy having their home back.

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Tourism-dependent economies are among those harmed the most by the pandemic

Before COVID-19, travel and tourism had become one of the most important sectors in the world economy, accounting for 10 percent of global GDP and more than 320 million jobs worldwide.

In 1950, at the dawn of the jet age, just 25 million people took foreign trips. By 2019, that number had reached 1.5 billion, and the travel and tourism sector had grown to almost too-big-to-fail proportions for many economies.

The global pandemic, the first of its scale in a new era of interconnectedness, has put 100 million jobs at risk, many in micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises that employ a high share of women, who represent 54 percent of the tourism workforce, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Tourism-dependent countries will likely feel the negative impacts of the crisis for much longer than other economies. Contact-intensive services key to the tourism and travel sectors are disproportionately affected by the pandemic and will continue to struggle until people feel safe to travel en masse again.

"There is no way we can grow our way out of this hole we are in," Irwin LaRocque, secretary-general of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), said at a virtual event in September.

From the white sand beaches of the Caribbean, Seychelles, Mauritius, and the Pacific to the back streets of Bangkok, to Africa's sweeping national parks, countries are grappling with how to lure back visitors while avoiding new outbreaks of infection. The solutions range from wooing the ultrarich who can quarantine on their yachts to inviting people to stay for periods of up to a year and work virtually while enjoying a tropical view.

Tourism receipts worldwide are not expected to recover to 2019 levels until 2023. In the first half of this year, tourist arrivals fell globally by more than 65 percent, with a near halt since April-compared with 8 percent during the global financial crisis and 17 percent amid the SARS epidemic of 2003, according to ongoing IMF research on tourism in a post-pandemic world.

The October World Economic Outlook projected the global economy would contract by 4.4 percent in 2020. The shock in tourism-dependent economies will be far worse. Real GDP among African countries dependent on tourism will shrink by 12 percent. Among tourism-dependent Caribbean nations, the decline will also reach 12 percent. Pacific island nations such as Fiji could see real GDP shrink by a staggering 21 percent in 2020.

Nor is the economic hit limited to the most tourism-dependent countries. In the United States, Hawaii saw one in every six jobs vanish by August. In Florida, where tourism accounts for up to 15 percent of the state's revenue, officials said it will take up to three years for the industry to recover.

Among G20 countries, the hospitality and travel sectors make up 10 percent of employment and 9.5 percent of GDP on average, with the GDP share reaching 14 percent or more in Italy, Mexico, and Spain. A six-month disruption to activity could directly reduce GDP between 2.5 percent and 3.5 percent across all G20 countries, according to a recent IMF paper.

Managing the revenue gap

In Barbados and Seychelles, as in many other tourism-dependent nations, the pandemic brought the industry to a virtual standstill. After successfully halting local transmission of the virus, the authorities reopened their island countries for international tourists in July. Still, arrivals in August were down almost 90 percent relative to previous years, drying up a vital stream of government revenue.

Barbados had gone into the crisis with good economic fundamentals, as a result of an IMF-supported economic reform program that helped stabilize debt, build reserves, and consolidate its fiscal position just before the crisis struck. The IMF augmented its Extended Fund Facility program by about $90 million, or about 2 percent of GDP, to help finance the emerging fiscal deficit as a result of plummeting revenues from tourism-related activity and increasing COVID-related expenditures.

"The longer this lasts, the more difficult it gets to maintain," says Kevin Greenidge, senior technical advisor to Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley. "What we don't want to do is operate policy-wise in a manner that will jeopardize the gains in terms of the fundamentals that we have made."

On the other side of the world, Seychelles, a country that entered the crisis from a similar position of strength, will still be challenged to return to medium-term fiscal sustainability without significant support. Just before the crisis struck, the government had rebuilt international reserves and consolidated its fiscal positions. Even so, the ongoing pandemic struck the Indian Ocean island nation very hard as tourism revenues fell while COVID-related expenditures increased.

"It is too early to determine whether the crisis represents a permanent shock and how it will shape the tourism industry going forward," says Boriana Yontcheva, the IMF's mission chief to Seychelles. "Given the large uncertainties surrounding the recovery of the sector, innovative structural policies will be necessary to adapt to the new normal."

All over the world, tourism-dependent economies are working to finance a broad range of policy measures to soften the impact of plummeting tourism revenues on households and businesses. Cash transfers, grants, tax relief, payroll support, and loan guarantees have been deployed. Banks have also halted loan repayments in some cases. Some countries have focused support on informal workers, who tend to be concentrated in the tourism sector and are highly vulnerable.

An analysis of the tourism industry by McKinsey & Company says that multiyear recovery of tourism demand to 2019 levels will require experimenting with new financing mechanisms.

The consulting firm analyzed stimulus packages across 24 economies totaling $100 billion in direct aid to the tourism industry and $300 billion in aid across other sectors with significant involvement in tourism. Most direct stimulus was in the form of grants, debt relief, and aid to small and medium-sized enterprises and airlines. The firm recommends new ways to support the industry, including revenue-sharing mechanisms among hotels that compete for the same market segment, such as a stretch of beachfront, and government-backed equity funds for tourism-related businesses.

Development challenge

The crisis has crystallized the importance of tourism as a development pathway for many countries to decrease poverty and improve their economies. In sub-Saharan Africa, the development of tourism has been a key driver in closing the gap between poor and rich countries, with tourism-dependent countries averaging real per capita GDP growth of 2.4 percent between 1990 and 2019-significantly faster than non-tourism-dependent countries in the region, according to IMF staff.

Smaller, tourism-dependent nations are in many ways locked into their economic destinies. Among small island nations, there are few, if any, alternative sectors to which they can shift labor and capital.

Seychelles, for example, has benefited from increases in tuna exports during the COVID-19 period, which have somewhat offset tourism losses, but these additional earnings remain a fraction of tourism receipts. The government is also carrying out a plan to pay wages to displaced tourism-sector workers while offering opportunities for retraining.

Meanwhile, the government in Barbados is trying to maintain social spending and reprioritize capital spending to create jobs, at least temporarily, in nontourism sectors such as agriculture and infrastructure development.

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association has projected that as many as 60 percent of the 30,000 new hotel rooms that were in the planning or construction phase throughout the Caribbean region will not be completed as a result of the crisis.

Still, the crisis is being viewed as an opportunity to improve the industry in the medium and long term through greater digitalization and environmental sustainability. The UNWTO has encouraged support for worker training in order to build digital skills for harnessing the value of big data, data analytics, and artificial intelligence. Recovery should be leveraged to improve the industry's efficient use of energy and water, waste management, and sustainable sourcing of food.

"In a sector that employs 1 in 10 people globally, harnessing innovation and digitalization, embracing local values, and creating decent jobs for all-especially for youth, women, and the most vulnerable groups in our societies-could be at the forefront of tourism's recovery," says UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.

Adjusting to a new normal

As the immediate impact of lockdowns and containment measures eased during the second half of 2020, countries started looking for a balance.

Thailand, Seychelles, and other countries approved programs that would admit tourists from "lower-risk" countries with special quarantine requirements. Fiji has created "blue lanes" that will allow seafaring visitors to arrive on yachts and quarantine at sea before they unleash "the immense economic impact they carry aboard," Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama declared on Twitter. St. Lucia requires a negative COVID-19 test no more than seven days before arrival. Australia created a "travel bubble" that will eliminate quarantine requirements for travelers from New Zealand. CARICOM countries have also created a "regional travel bubble" that eliminates testing and quarantine for people traveling from countries within the bubble.

In a new era of remote work, countries and territories such as Barbados, Estonia, Georgia, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, and the Cayman Islands offer new long-term permits, lasting up to 12 months in some places, to entice foreign visitors to bring their virtual offices with them while spending in local economies.

Japan, which had seen its international arrivals triple from 2013 to 2018, started lifting border closures for travelers from certain countries at the end of October. To accommodate a post-pandemic tourism rebound, an IMF Working Paper recommends that the government continue a trend of relaxing visa requirements, draw visitors away from urban centers to less populated regions of the country, and complement a tourism comeback with improvements to labor resources and tourism infrastructure.

The World Tourism and Travel Council in a report on the future of the industry said the pandemic has shifted travelers' focus to domestic trips or nature and outdoor destinations. Travel will largely be "kickstarted by the less risk averse travelers and early adopters, from adventure travelers and backpackers to surfers and mountain climbers," the report says.

Leisure travel will lead the comeback in the tourism and travel sector. Business travel, a crucial source of revenue for hotels and airlines, could see a permanent shift or may come back only in phases based on proximity, reason for travel, and sector.

In the end, the return of tourism will likely hinge on what will be a deeply personal decision for many people as they weigh the risk of falling ill against the necessity of travel. The private sector backed by some tourism-dependent nations is developing global protocols for various travel industries, including a call for more rapid testing at airports to boost confidence in traveling.

"The fact is people do not feel comfortable traveling. We have not put in the necessary protocols to give them that comfort," St. Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet said at a September virtual event. "After 9/11, the TSA [Transportation Security Administration] and other security agencies around the world did a fantastic job of developing protocols that regained the public's confidence to travel, and sadly with this pandemic we haven't done that."

ADAM BEHSUDI is on the staff of Finance & Development.

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Impact of the Pandemic on Tourism - IMF F&D

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Tourism-dependent economies are among those harmed the most by the pandemic, writes F&D's Adam Behsudi.

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Topline

Amsterdam's city council will no longer allow cruise ships to dock in the city center in an effort to cut down on tourism-related problems and curb pollution - the latest tourist hot spot to battle the industry already struggling from staffing shortages, Covid-related financial struggles and a myriad of criticism from environmental activists.

Key Facts

The central cruise terminal near Amsterdam's main train station will eventually close as a result of the decision, BBC reported, after politicians said allowing large vessels into the historic area did not align with goals for sustainability and are contributing to a tourism industry the city is trying to get under control.

The city drew about 9 million tourists in 2021 and 20 million visitors last year, city data shows, and the cruise law is the latest step toward dissuading visitors including a ban on smoking marijuana in public in the red-light district, earlier closing times for restaurants and the end of in-store alcohol sales after 4 p.m. from Thursday to Sunday, the New York Times reported.

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema complained last year that cruise ships brought nothing substantial to the city, BBC reported, only letting visitors hit the streets for a few hours of partying before they were called back on board.

More than 3.8 million passengers have gone through the Cruise Port Amsterdam since 2000, its website says, and more than 2,100 ships have docked in that port.

Environmental concerns also contributed to the decision-the European Federation for Transport and Environment said in June that 63 cruise ships owned by the Carnival Corporation emitted 43% more sulfur oxides than Europe's 291 million cars in 2022.

The region has another port about 18 miles east in IJmuiden that will not be impacted by the ban.

Key Quote

"Amsterdam sails better without the cruise," said Ilana Rooderkerk of the liberal majority D66 party, per NYT.

Five Places That Have Regulated Cruise Ships

Barcelona-Barcelona's regional government last year said it will limit cruise liners arriving at what was once Europe's busiest cruise terminal. The city has struggled with over tourism since travel resumed post-Covid, Bloomberg reported, and short-term visitors from cruise ships aren't seen as overly helpful to the local economy. Pollution was also a concern for the Spanish port-Barcelona was the European city most polluted by cruise ship emissions in 2019, per Bloomberg, and in 2017 there were 32.8 tons of sulfur oxides emitted at the port.

Venice-The Italian city banned cruise liners in 2021 to protect the environment and its heritage, Reuters first reported. Ships that weigh more than 25,000 tons are no longer allowed down the Giudecca Canal, which passes the Palazzo Giustinian Recanati, several famous churches and the Dogana da Mar art gallery. At the time, Venice was in danger of being classified as "world heritage in danger" by the United Nations, meaning overtourism was threatening the architecture and environment that put the historic center of Venice on the World Heritage List in 2001.

Dublin-Brexit was the reason cited for a limit to cruise liner traffic starting in 2019 at Dublin Port. At the time, 160 cruise ships' calls were already booked for 2019, with 140 bookings set for 2020, the Irish Times reported, and in 2021 the number of allowed cruises was cut to 80. Officials said port capacity was needed for increased container traffic after the U.K. left the European Union.

Santorini-Santorini started limiting the number of cruise ship passengers allowed per day to 8,000 in 2019. Santorini also saw spikes in air pollution in 2018, according to The Independent, which the Hellenic Ornithological Society blamed on the cruise ship industry's use of heavy fuel oil.

A cruise ship near Santorini island in Greece.
VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

French Polynesia-It's been 18 months since the government of French Polynesia banned cruise ships carrying more than 3,500 passengers at any of the country's ports, including at popular destination Bora Bora. Tahiti now only welcomes ships with fewer than 2,500 passengers and those with more than 1,200 can't dock at all in Bora Bora, according to Conde Nast Traveler.

Key Background

The cruise industry has been under intense scrutiny in recent years to clean up its act environmentally, at the same time it struggles to overcome debt from the Covid shutdown and faces staff shortages. Port cities in Florida, Maine, Alaska, and California are all fighting to further regulate the cruise industry, Business Insider reported, but there's little they can do because most piers are owned by the federal government. The city council in Monterey, California, voted to stop offering city services to cruise ships in an effort to take "care of this little piece of the planet that we have," Travel + Leisure reported, and Juneau, Alaska, voted to allow only five ships per day in its downtown port. Environmental activists have called for an end to cruises altogether, slamming them for poor labor practices, insensitive cultural impacts, environmental damage and other concerns.

Tangent

The world's largest cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas by Royal Caribbean, will set sail for the first time in January 2024. The ship includes 20 decks, seven pools and a waterpark, will carry almost 8,000 workers and passengers and tickets start at $1,851 per person.

Further Reading

Amsterdam bans cruise ships to limit visitors and curb pollution (BBC)

These US port cities are fighting to restrict cruise ships. It's easier said than done. (Business Insider)

Norovirus Cruise Ship Outbreaks Already Reach 10-Year High In 2023 (Forbes)

The 'Icon Of The Seas' Will Soon Be The World's Largest Cruise Ship - Here's How Much It Costs To Get Aboard ( Forbes)

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War On Cruise Ships? Amsterdam Latest Port To Limit Or Ban Cruise Liners

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The cruise industry has had a tough couple of years-and getting tougher-as another major port moves to limit the number of ships sailing to the Netherlands.