RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
Our cruises offer the opportunity for people to explore some of the world’s most iconic destinations. We are committed to fostering positive social and economic impacts in the local communities we visit.
During port visits, there is the potential for significant spend onshore as our guests eat, shop, take local tours, and hire transport.
Collaboration with local authorities, community groups and partners, such as the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), to share information and integrate policies and strategies helps support responsible tourism management.
Economic Impact: Terminal development
We have invested in the creation of new terminal facilities in Durban, Miami, and Barcelona. These are allowing – or will allow – us to deploy our latest, most modern vessels in these locations. To ensure we are building these terminals with the environment front of mind, all new MSC Cruises’ port terminals are certified to LEED silver or higher. LEED – which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – is a widely used global green building rating system. Its rigorous score-based systems ensure high levels of efficiency in both building design and operation.
Miami: our new cruise terminal in Miami, will be North America’s largest and most modern terminal. Our ships at berth at the new Miami terminal will have access to the local power grid, in line with PortMiami’s plans to enable shore power connectivity. A comprehensive environmental and social management system is in place for the construction and subsequent operation of the terminal. At a minimum, the terminal is expected to meet the LEED Silver rating, and a third-party audited system will ensure extensive data collection, reporting and incident notification practices.
Responsible Tourism
Unmanaged tourism is a challenge for many of the world’s most popular travel destinations, and we are committed to playing our part in addressing this. We work with our tour operators and relevant local authorities to find ways to minimise crowding on city infrastructure and traffic. This includes finding new sites to visit, expanding the area of interest beyond city centres. We are determined to be a positive and engaged player in driving responsible and sustainable tourism.
Transport: The first step in offering greener tours is to consider how we transport passengers from ports to places of interest. We are committed to expanding our utilisation of green ground transportation over time. We were able to replace some fossil-fuelled vehicles to electric and hybrid shuttle buses in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Spain and Sweden.
Supporting local communities
The MSC Foundation supports communities in need through a variety of projects and programmes, including long-term partnerships with Marevivo, UNICEF and Mercy Ships.
Emergency relief: Responsive as always to emergencies, the MSC Foundation continues to consolidate its global role assisting those most in need by donating goods, instigating fundraising schemes, and working with the MSC Group to provide logistics support.
Onboard education and involvement: Some of our cruise ships now host a dedicated MSC Foundation Centre, designed to inform and inspire our guests on the MSC Foundation’s aims, programmes, and initiatives to tackle to the most pressing global needs.
