ABSTRACT
Purpose: The purpose of the theme issue was to enable cruise ship owners and destination governments to critically assess the viability, vulnerability and responsiveness of Caribbean cruise tourism in the context of the pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: This concluding article uses content analysis to re-visit the contributions made to assessing the impact of the pandemic and the implications for Caribbean cruise tourism. Findings: Governments across the Caribbean will need to re-think how they work with the cruise industry in a more cohesive and integrated way. This initiative is likely to result in the Caribbean having greater latitude in negotiations with the major cruise conglomerates that control over 80% of the industry in the region. Close attention must also be paid to improving local infrastructure and to facilitating the involvement of local people in providing tourists with an authentic Caribbean experience. Practical implications: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a significant impact on the Caribbean region. In common with the rest of the world, island destinations had to close their borders to mitigate the impact of the virus and as tourism-dependent locations, this has had financial consequences. At present, there is no end in sight, and it is difficult to predict when Caribbean cruise tourism will ever return to pre-pandemic levels. Social implications: COVID-19 has shown the world that we are all dependent on each other and that greater collaboration is needed to re-open the cruise industry. The pandemic has also shown that rapid technological development is needed to drive change. Further, it can be argued that technology will enable all stakeholders to coordinate their responses, together with support from governments across the Caribbean. Originality/value: This theme issue explored the impact of COVID-19 on cruise tourism in the Caribbean and it proposes factors to mitigate re-occurrence. The proposals contained in this theme issue provide a guide to help enable governments in the Caribbean region to re-position their respective countries in response to the pandemic and related socio-economic impacts.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: There are numerous pressures on the cruise tourism industry as in the recent past, many well-established cruise tourism locations have been turning tourists and ships away due to overtourism. It is argued here that now is the time to consider the introduction of new destinations. Design/methodology/approach: The article is based on a literature review and discussions with experienced practitioners. Findings: The cruise industry has continued to evolve and the numbers of people engaging in cruise tourism had been on the increase globally until the Covid-19 pandemic. Medium-sized and mega ships with state-of-the-art facilities were in regular use. Despite the fact that there was a boom, the need for an extension of cruise lines destinations has arisen as there are numerous nations with exciting locations waiting to be discovered. Some of the limitations of such destinations include difficulty of access for large mega ships and infrastructure. A way forward can be found though by engaging local smaller boats/ships to transfer tourists to local destinations. Research limitations/implications: More work is needed to clarify issues such as (1) the readiness of proposed host communities to receive tourists;(2) terms and conditions of engagement of local boat companies;(3) cruising infrastructure development and (4) facilities upgrading that is compatible with international cruising standards. Originality/value: This paper highlights some of the issues being faced by cruise companies in well-established tourism destinations. It also emphasizes the need for new, hitherto undiscovered locations to accommodate a likely expansion in demand in the post-Covid-19 era.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: The cruise industry has been significantly impacted as a result of Covid-19. Some cruise lines have downsized, and many have cancelled ship orders while some vessels have been put on retainers. It is still uncertain how long this situation will continue. Even when cruise lines resume their services, the uptake is likely to be gradual because many traditional and potential cruisers may still be reluctant to travel because of the fear of contracting the disease. In addition, an enormous amount of money and time will be required to overhaul ships, re-plan service processes, re-certify crew and develop a new normal for how cruise businesses operate. An analysis of these issues forms the primary purpose of this study. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative approach was used to gather data and this was augmented by the personal industry experiences of the authors. Findings: Steady growth in the cruise industry came to an end during the last two years due to the unanticipated impact of the pandemic. SARS, Ebola and other diseases were much less significant in comparison. Many Caribbean islands have recently upgraded their ports to accommodate mega cruise ships as tourism is the main source of income for these islands. These investments run to millions of US dollars and as yet, there are no indications as to when the industry will recover. Research limitations/implications: Access to industry experts was not as broad-ranging as anticipated due to time pressures and the fact that it is difficult to schedule interviews by telephone or webinar with busy practitioners. Social implications: The pandemic will continue to impact the people of the Caribbean economically and socially, because of their dependence on tourism and especially cruise businesses. Originality/value: The gradual re-entry of cruise operations represents a fourth phase in the development of the industry. This juncture is the most critical phase because of the many opinions surrounding vaccination. Cruising is unlike land-based tourism assets where a rapid reactive response is easier to facilitate. A health crisis at sea can have disastrous consequences, especially for small islands with limited facilities to deal with critical Covid-19 infections.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: The aim of the paper is to examine the impacts of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the Caribbean cruise industry and assess the post-pandemic prospects for recovery. Design/methodology/approach: The study used a qualitative approach applied through personal interviews as well as data from secondary sources. Findings: The prospects for the post-pandemic cruise industry reveal the need for long-term plans and strategies from Caribbean countries if the countries are to remain viable. Research limitations/implications: The research was limited to Jamaica, St. Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda. The scope could have been broadened to include other Caribbean islands such as Barbados. Practical implications: The study is practical and useful to tourism practitioners and governments seeking to create a balance between reaping the benefits of cruise tourism and safeguarding its citizens. Social implications: The pandemic has caused a re-examination of how people interact. Originality/value: The study adds to the body of literature on the post-pandemic survival of the Caribbean cruise industry and provides a useful briefing for practitioners.
ABSTRACT
Purpose There are numerous pressures on the cruise tourism industry as in the recent past, many well-established cruise tourism locations have been turning tourists and ships away due to overtourism. It is argued here that now is the time to consider the introduction of new destinations. Design/methodology/approach The article is based on a literature review and discussions with experienced practitioners. Findings The cruise industry has continued to evolve and the numbers of people engaging in cruise tourism had been on the increase globally until the Covid-19 pandemic. Medium-sized and mega ships with state-of-the-art facilities were in regular use. Despite the fact that there was a boom, the need for an extension of cruise lines destinations has arisen as there are numerous nations with exciting locations waiting to be discovered. Some of the limitations of such destinations include difficulty of access for large mega ships and infrastructure. A way forward can be found though by engaging local smaller boats/ships to transfer tourists to local destinations. Research limitations/implications More work is needed to clarify issues such as (1) the readiness of proposed host communities to receive tourists;(2) terms and conditions of engagement of local boat companies;(3) cruising infrastructure development and (4) facilities upgrading that is compatible with international cruising standards. Originality/value This paper highlights some of the issues being faced by cruise companies in well-established tourism destinations. It also emphasizes the need for new, hitherto undiscovered locations to accommodate a likely expansion in demand in the post-Covid-19 era.
ABSTRACT
Purpose The aim of this paper is to examine the post-pandemic prospects for the luxury yacht industry in the coming decade in contrast to those for mega cruise ships. Design/methodology/approach The paper employed a qualitative approach via an examination of industry analysis and discussion with industry experts in tourism, cruising and luxury yachting. Findings Based on industry analysis and discussion with key stakeholders, the finding is that the luxury yacht industry responded well to its market from the onset of the pandemic, and will continue on this path in both luxury and sporting yacht categories. To regain customer support after the long period of travel restrictions, cruise lines will have to significantly reduce their prices in order to stimulate demand. This, coupled with approximately 40% reductions in load capacity is a blow to the industry. Hence, this calls for the industry to commit itself to the present safety protocols, which are an added cost to their operations. In contrast, the luxury yacht industry is presented with a golden opportunity as a result of these constraints as it can stimulate revenue through charters and rentals. Practical implications There was never anticipation of a global pandemic that would bring tourism operations to a total halt. The question is, what recovery strategies have been employed by the small island states that have invested millions of US dollars over the last two decades in expanding or developing new cruise ports? Given the historical perspective for Errol Flynn Marina in Port Antonio, Jamaica, the Port Authority of Jamaica can reposition the Marina to take advantage of the new opportunity that has been created for the yacht industry by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Social implications It is likely that more Caribbean nationals will be employed on luxury yachts as compared with the less than 5% of Caribbean nationals employed on cruise ships prior to the pandemic. Originality/value The economies of most Caribbean Islands and many other small island developing states (SIDSs) are heavily dependent on tourism;specifically cruise tourism during the cruise season. Some of these countries continue to anticipate a quick recovery for the cruise industry. This anticipation may not yield an immediate result because of the protocols that are needed in response to the pandemic. This paper shows that in the mid to long-term, the returns from significant investment in port development must be realized and the luxury yacht industry presents one such opportunity. This paper is helpful because the present outlook for cruising is not good, and so a new approach and strategy must be put in place to develop new products.