Estado de la industria del crucero - The state of the cruise industry 63 En la pasada edición de Seatrade hablamos y nos comentó que el mayor reto al que tenía que hacer frente el sector era la inestabilidad que impedía poder planificar. Ahora, tras regresar a la normalidad postpandémica, ¿se ha superado este hito? Todos hemos vivido en primera persona la inestabilidad y la incertidumbre que generó la pandemia. En una industria como una operación tan compleja como la nuestra, en la que además hacemos escala en diferentes países en un mismo itinerario, sus efectos son aún mayores. Con la pandemia ya prácticamente superada, hemos vuelto a un escenario más o menos similar al que estábamos habituados, en el que, por supuesto, hay amenazas, retos, incertidumbres… ¿Cuáles cree que son los principales retos de la industria? Por centrarme solo en uno diría que seguir avanzando en materia de sostenibilidad socioeconómica y medioambiental y, en este capítulo concreto, lograr la descarbonización de la industria. Estamos haciendo un esfuerzo titánico por reducir nuestra huella a todos los niveles; cada año las navieras destinan muchos miles de euros en I+D+i, trabajan junto a los astilleros, instituciones, proveedores en el desarrollo de nuevos combustibles, pero no debemos perder de vista que nuestro expertise es ofrecer a nuestros clientes unas vacaciones memorables a bordo. We spoke at last year’s Seatrade and you told us that the biggest challenge for the industry was the instability that was hindering planning. Now, after returning to post-pandemic normality, is this challenge nowwater under the bridge? We all experienced the instability and uncertainty generated by the pandemic firsthand. In an industry as complex as ours, where we call at different countries on the same itinerary, the effects are even greater. Now that the pandemic is practically over, we have returned to a situation that is similar to the one we had before, in which, of course, there are still threats, challenges and uncertainties. What are the main challenges facing the industry? To focus on just one, I would say that we must continue to make progress in socio-economic and environmental sustainability and decarbonize the industry. We are making a titanic effort to reduce our footprint at all levels; every year shipowners spend thousands on R&D and innovation, working together with shipyards, organizations and suppliers to develop new fuels, although we must not lose sight of the fact that our main area of expertise is offering our customers a memorable holiday onboard ship. The industry’s ambition is to reach zero carbon emissions by 2050, though it is not up to us alone to achieve this goal. It is absolutely imperative that governments embrace “SPANISH PORTS ARE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB AND MAKING PROGRESS IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABILITY” What do cruise lines need to be able to operate under the best conditions? What would you ask of Spanish ports? Spanish ports are doing a fantastic job and are making progress in terms of sustainability. Therefore, I believe that the need to operate under the best conditions will not come from the ports, but from the need for green marine fuels that will bring us closer to decarbonization. What is your relationship with the State-owned Ports Body like? We have an excellent relationship with the State-owned Ports Body at all levels. It is a relationship that has been forged over the years and is based on mutual cooperation and assistance, dialogue and trust. The State-owned Ports Body is an essential, highly strategic partner. Is the agreement with Barcelona Oberta the first step towards forging alliances with cities to promote sustainable cruise tourism? Do you see more agreements of this type on the cards? The agreement signed with Barcelona Oberta is another example of our partnerships with destinations to promote responsible tourism. Another example is the work we have been carrying out for years with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) in some of the most popular Mediterranean destinations.
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