Managing cruise dreams carefully

DREAM Cruises has revealed it is “highly sensitive” to the growing problem of overtourism in the cruise sector, adopting a range of initiatives such as opening up new destinations.

Speaking to Cruise Weekly this week, Dream Cruises President and Managing Director of Crystal Cruises Asia Thatcher Brown said that taking the pressure off popular cruise destinations was an important factor in combating the problem.

Dream has recently widened its scope of destinations to include MacLeod Island ( pictured), Bintan Island, and Laoag, among others.

“By doing so we have created new and unique options and variety for our guests, dispersing and overcoming overcrowding-related issues,” Brown said.

“We continue to work closely with the regional and local stakeholders to manage and minimise overcrowding in targeted destinations, as well as introduce itineraries that complement the destinations,” he added.

When asked what methods cruise brands should deploy to help address overtourism, Brown conceded there is no quick fix.

“As overtourism is a long-term problem that requires long-term strategies and solutions, it’s an important topic that deserves attention from the cruise lines,” he said.

“It’s vital for relevant stakeholders to identify the potential destinations that face overtourism and initiate steps to get travellers from various travel industries to sprawl out and avoid tourism choke points for selected destinations.”

Brown also suggested cruise dispersal strategies should take into account seasonal considerations, as well as marketing campaigns that shift demand to slower periods or towards less known destinations.