Sus ainable A c ic C uise Communi ies:
F om P ac ice o Go e nance
CROSS-CASE ANALYSIS REPORT
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PUBLICATION INFO
Copy igh © 2024 NORDLANDSFORSKNING (No dland Resea ch Ins i u e)
Published by No dlands o skning AS
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Ti le: Sus ainable A c ic C uise Communi ies: F om p ac ice o go e nance. C oss-case analysis epo
NF-Rappo numbe : 15/2024
ISBN (digi al): 978-82-7321-901-5
ISSN (digi al): 2704-033X
Au ho s: Lindbe g e al. 2023
Publica ion da e: 26.11.2024
P ojec manage : Hinde je Hoa au Heems a (No d Uni e si y, No way)
P ojec : Sus ainable A c ic C uise Communi ies: F om p ac ice o go e nance
Subjec heading: C oss-case analysis epo
Page numbe : 37
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Table o Con en
1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 3
1.1 Theo e ical and analy ical jus ifica ion ................................................................................. 4
1.2 Ísa jö ðu , Iceland ................................................................................................................... 5
1.3 Nuuk, G eenland ..................................................................................................................... 6
1.4 Honnings åg, No way ............................................................................................................ 7
1.5 Al a, No way ............................................................................................................................ 8
1.6 Lo o en Islands, No way ........................................................................................................ 9
2 KEY ISSUES CONNECTED TO CRUISE ............................................................................... 10
2.1 Sha ed in as uc u e and spaces ....................................................................................... 10
2.1.1 Sha ed ha bo space wi h o he indus ies ................................................................ 10
2.1.2 Balancing be ween c uise-based e sus land-based ou ism .................................. 11
2.1.3 Sha ing public spaces be ween ou is s and inhabi an s ......................................... 12
2.1.4 Impac on he en i onmen , na u e, and wildli e ...................................................... 13
2.2 Human esou ces, knowledges, and compe encies ......................................................... 14
2.2.1 S affing and ec ui men .............................................................................................. 15
2.2.2 Employmen condi ions and a ac i eness ............................................................... 16
2.2.3 Mul iple skills and compe encies ................................................................................. 16
2.3 Tempo ali ies o c uise ......................................................................................................... 17
2.3.1 On/off c uise .................................................................................................................. 17
2.3.2 Seasonali y ..................................................................................................................... 19
3 THE VALUES OF CRUISE TOURISM .................................................................................. 21
3.1 The desi ed s a e o c uise ou ism .................................................................................... 21
3.1.1 Local con ol o incoming c uise ships and ou is s .................................................. 22
3.1.2 Bes fi and balance be ween c uise and land-based ou ism ................................. 24
4 TOOLS AND GOOD PRACTICES TO ACHIEVE LOCAL CONTROL .................................... 25
4.1 P icing .................................................................................................................................... 26
4.2 Inno a ing .............................................................................................................................. 27
4.3 In es ing ................................................................................................................................. 29
4.4 Regula ing .............................................................................................................................. 30
4.5 Ne wo king ............................................................................................................................ 32
5 CONCLUSION: LIVING WITH THE TROUBLE ................................................................... 34
REFERENCES............................................................................................................................. 36
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1 INTRODUCTION
A c ic coas al communi ies’ unique cul u es and spec acula scene ies a ac in e na ional
c uise ope a o s and passenge s, and he numbe o c uise a i als and he de elopmen o
new c uise landing-si es a e g owing.i Cu en ly, he mos concen a ed passenge essel
affic is loca ed along he No wegian coas and off he coas s o G eenland, Iceland, and
S alba d—while Alaska, he Canadian A c ic, and he Russian A c ic a e also expe iencing a
sha p inc ease in he numbe o ships.ii Consequen ly, local s akeholde s in A c ic des ina ions
ha ecei e c uise isi s—including esiden s, ep esen a i es o public o ganiza ions, po
au ho i ies, was e handle s, e ail ope a o s, ou ism planne s, and he local ou ism and
hospi ali y indus y—mus adap o new si ua ions ha a e a ising om an inc ease in c uise-
ela ed p ac ices. Howe e , c uise ou ism is o en a double-edged dilemma o local
des ina ions: On he one hand, c uise ou ism can be an in e es ing business oppo uni y ha
b ings addi ional income o coas al communi ies. On he o he hand, c uise ac i i ies’ nega i e
ex e nali ies (such as wa e and ai pollu ion, o e c owding, and inc eased s ess on local
communi ies and ecosys ems) ha e d awn c i icism o c uise p ac ices in many coas al
communi ies.iii
This c oss-case analysis is based on fi e case epo s om he “Sus ainable A c ic c uise
communi ies: F om p ac ice o go e nance” p ojec ounded by he No wegian Resea ch
Council o he pe iod o 2020–2024 (G an 301540). Th oughou he p ojec , we ha e
examined c uise p ac ices in coas al A c ic communi ies ha ecei e o e seas and expedi ion
c uise ou is s. Ex ensi e fieldwo k has been conduc ed in fi e case loca ions: Ísa jö ðu in
Iceland; Nuuk in Kalaalli Nunaa (G eenland); and Al a, Honnings åg, and he Lo o en Islands
in No way and Sápmi (see Figu e 1 below). The s udy looks a he effec s o c uise ou ism
de elopmen and how hey a y among A c ic communi ies depending on he diffe en social,
poli ical and ins i u ional se ings, as well as he possibili ies o adop and espond o
challenges and changes ha o en ha e global o igins.i
Figu e 1. Map o he fi e A c ic case communi ies. By H.G. Lindbe g, modified om Apple Maps
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The fi e case s udies in his p ojec a e A c ic coas al communi ies ha hos c uise ships,
ega dless o whe he hese des ina ions sel -iden i y o b and hemsel es as specific c uise
des ina ions. A sho desc ip ion o he case s udy loca ions is p o ided o o m he con ex o
he c oss-case analysis. We hope ha his epo can be inspi a ional o local communi ies
and con ibu e o hei ongoing wo k o mi iga e nega i e impac s om c uise ope a ions
while enhancing posi i e effec s and alue c ea ion. In addi ion, c oss-A c ic lea ning and
exchange o good c uise p ac ices may se e as a basis o local decision-making p ocesses.
The epo highligh s he a ious con ex ual ac o s, iden i ying key issues and alues in
ela ion o c uise ou ism in he fi e case loca ions. I also p o ides an o e iew o ools and
bes p ac ices ha communi ies can apply o sel -go e n c uise ou ism so ha ou ism
de elopmen is in line wi h local alues and p io i ies.
O e all, h ee challenges ha e been iden ified. Fi s , he common use o esou ces and sha ed
spaces can lead o nega i e local impac s, such as o e c owding, conges ions, and a ious
o ms o pollu ion. Second, he iming and pace o c uise ou ism a e impo an o economic
and social sus ainabili y. This includes issues ela ed o long- e m planning, combined wi h
he unp edic abili y o changing wea he condi ions, as well as sho and in ense seasonali y,
plus he dynamics o sho and in ense c uise calls ha las only a ew hou s. Thi d, diffe en
s akeholde s a ach diffe en alues and meanings o a ious ypes o c uise ou ism, which
means ha he e is o en no consensus ega ding he u u e de elopmen pa h o c uise
ou ism in he A c ic.
In wha ollows, we explain and jus i y he heo e ical and analy ical choices made in his
p ojec and in his epo . We hen p esen he fi e case loca ions be o e di ing in o he key
issues connec ed o c uise ou ism in Chap e 2, and he a ious alues associa ed wi h c uise
ou ism in Chap e 3. The ools and p ac ices cu en ly being used by diffe en ac o s ac oss
he case loca ions o sus ain local con ol o c uise ou ism a e exemplified in Chap e 4,
be o e we end wi h concluding ema ks abou how communi ies a e dealing wi h he
inc easing p esence o c uise ships in he A c ic and li ing wi h he oubles, as well as he
benefi s, ha c uise ou ism b ings.
1.1 Theo e ical and analy ical jus ifica ion
In his s udy, we ha e concen a ed on c uise p ac ices as “blocks” comp ising h ee se s o
connec ed elemen s: ma e ials, such as objec s, echnologies, was e; compe encies, such as
expe iences and skills; and meanings such as aspi a ions, ideas, emo ions. We ocus on he
ac o s ha a e engaging wi h hese p ac ices and hei pe spec i es on he challenges and
oppo uni ies ha a ise om c uise ou ism. i Th ough he analysis o he diffe en c uise
p ac ices om he pe spec i es o he ac o s in ol ed, we ge o explo e he connec ions
be ween he p ac ices and gene a e knowledge on how diffe en communi ies de elop
p ac ices o op imize hei co-exis ence wi h c uise ou ism. The aim is o imp o e ou
unde s anding o exis ing c uise p ac ices a he des ina ion le el and o co-p oduce
go e nance s a egies o sus ainable c uise ou ism.
Co-p oduc ion is essen ial he e, and h oughou he s udy we accen ua e he alue o local
knowledge h ough open and anspa en dialogues wi h communi y membe s and by
con inuously epo ing back p elimina y findings o sha e and secu e i s local ele ance, and
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o u he co-c ea e knowledge. ii This knowledge co-c ea ion can be seen as a ool ha guides
c uise ou ism owa d sus ainabili y. To achie e mo e sus ainable c uise p ac ices in he A c ic,
we need o know wha has been done locally, how and by whom, wha wo ks, and how ac o s
in simila si ua ions can lea n om o he s’ p ac ices.
1.2 Ísa jö ðu , Iceland
Ísa jö ðu , wi h 2,750 inhabi an s, has Iceland’s hi d busies po a e Reykja ík and Aku ey i.
I s loca ion is emo e, a away om he capi al o Reykja ík, in he no hwes e n a m o he
island. The fishing indus y has domina ed o cen u ies, and now also includes aquacul u e
and fish p ocessing. The ou ism and se ice indus ies a e now becoming one o he sec o s
wi h mos e enues and employees. The des ina ion has been hos ing c uise ships since he
ea ly 1990s.
Ísa jö ðu is commonly one o he s ops on a c uise ou a ound he whole o Iceland. The
own is con enien ly si ua ed be ween wo majo c uise des ina ions, Reykja ík and Aku ey i,
which is one eason why c uise ships choose o do s opo e s in Ísa jö ðu . The c uise ships
spend on a e age 8–10 hou s in po , a i ing ea ly in he mo ning and lea ing in he
a e noon. Due o he ha sh win e s and difficul oad condi ions, mos ou is s isi Ísa jö ðu
du ing he summe mon hs o June, July, and Augus . C uise passenge s mainly come om
Ge many, Uni ed Kingdom, and No h Ame ica. Du ing 2023, a o al o 213,000 c uise isi o s
a e expec ed.
Figu e 2. Ha bo in Ísa jö du , Iceland © Á. M. S einsdó i
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1.3 Nuuk, Kalaalli Nunaa
Nuuk is he capi al o Kalaalli Nunaa , si ua ed a he sou hwes coas . Wi h i s 19,000
inhabi an s i is he la ges own in Kalaalli . Nuuk hos s he G eenlandic sel - ule go e nmen
and i s adminis a ion as well as Ilisima usa fik/Uni e si y o G eenland. Addi ionally, many
companies wi hin enginee ing, mining, fishe ies, and shipping ha e hei headqua e s in
Nuuk. Compa ed o o he c uise des ina ions, bo h in Kalaalli Nunaa and elsewhe e in his
s udy, Nuuk enjoys a g ea e abundance o space, nume ous ou is a ac ions, many buses
and ou guides, many be h me e s o ships o dock and much mo e; his weal h o
in as uc u e and esou ces esul s in ela i ely low le els o conflic abou c uise ou ism.
The de elopmen o c uise ou ism in Kalaalli Nunaa began in he 1990s. The capi al, Nuuk,
is one o he mos popula des ina ions and one o fi e po s ha can hos la ge ships. A new
in e na ional ai po is planned o open in 2024, which will allow Nuuk o ecei e la ge ai c a
and inc ease di ec in e na ional fligh connec ions. This will enable Nuuk o become a u n-
a ound poin o c uise ships, which means mo e passenge s and mo e p ofi . A he same
ime, his will add new p essu es on o he own in addi ion o cons aining he ha bo acili ies.
Figu e 3. The ha bo in Nuuk, G eenland/Kalaalli Nunaa © H. Halkie
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1.4 Honnings åg, No way and Sápmi
Honnings åg - Á áhki/Honnes áhki in No he n Sami and Vooki in he K en language - is a own
loca ed on he island o Mage øya in No dkapp Municipali y wi h 2,947 inhabi an s (2022). I
is connec ed o he mainland o No way by a 7 km unnel. The p incipal po and ai po a e
in Honnings åg. Since he la e 1950s, he main ou is a ac ion in he egion has been he
No h Cape pla eau, Eu ope’s no he nmos poin . This is a ou is ho po o all ypes o
ou is s coming o Honnings åg, wi h app oxima ely 200,000 isi o s du ing he summe
mon hs o June o Augus . Coas al passenge se ices a e offe ed by Ha ila and Hu ig u en
( ound ips, no he n ou e, o sou he n ou e).
C uise ou ism has a long his o y in Honnings åg, wi h c uise ships a i ing since he 1990s.
The ha bo is loca ed only 150 me e s away om he cen e o he own. I is he 10 h la ges
in No way, se ing as a hub o ca go anspo , local fishing essels and fish p ocessing
acili ies, as well as he ou is and a el indus y. I is expec ed o hos 184 isi o ships in
2023 ha will ei he dock a one o he h ee c uise quays o ancho in he jo d. Maximum
p essu e om he c uise indus y is expe ienced du ing he sho summe season and,
oge he wi h he inc eased land-based ou ism, he olumes ep esen se ious p essu es on
diffe en le els.
Figu e 4. Honnings åg/Á áhki/Honnes áhki/Vooki, No way and Sápmi © A. Pashke ich
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nei he in e ms o in as uc u e, no enough powe . An excep ion is Nuuk, which is cu en ly
expanding i s hyd oelec ic plan , and u u e hyd opowe could p o ide clean powe o c uise
ships docking he e. To educe emissions in Al a, he bus companies ha e decided ha buses
mus u n off hei engines when pa ked o educe emissions as well as con ibu e o a
heal hie wo king en i onmen o all he ha bo wo ke s. In Nuuk, s akeholde s also highligh
he nega i e impac s on ma ine wildli e wi h which he ships sha e he jo d. C uise ships and
all la ge ships cause acous ic dis u bance o whales, and ou is s on ou boa s also dis u b
hem. A code o conduc has been implemen ed, gi ing guidelines o ou boa s abou
equi ed speed, di ec ion, and dis ance om he animals o a oid chaos when whales a e
spo ed in he jo d. Bi dwa ching is also egula ed by dis ance equi emen s. Fu he mo e,
he e is an ongoing deba e in bo h G eenland and No way as o whe he o p o ec he whales
in he jo d, bo h o animal wel a e and ou is s’ expe ience, o o con inue o allow whale
hun ing by local people.
In addi ion o was e handling, emissions, and a ious pollu ion measu es, he case loca ions
a e wo king o es ablish mo e sus ainable p ac ices h ough codes o conduc o ce ifica ion
schemes such as he Sus ainable Des ina ion Ce ifica ion om Inno a ion No way o Al a,
Lo o en, and Honnings åg. Toge he wi h al eady es ablished in e na ional en i onmen al
egula ions, Icelandic and No wegian ha bo s ha e in oduced economic incen i es, offe ing
discoun s on ha bo (moo ing) ees o he ope a o s ha comply wi h ce ain en i onmen al
equi emen s. In Nuuk, c uise ships a e ad ised no o offload was e due o limi ed was e
handling capaci y. The ships can en was e con aine s in ad ance om hei shipping agen ,
al hough his is an expensi e p o ision. Fo A c ic communi ies ecei ing c uise ships,
managing he sha ing o in as uc u e and spaces is an impo an aspec o c uise ou ism,
as oo is he need o manage he was e, pollu ion, and emissions s emming om he c uise
ships and he incoming ou is s. O e all, some ac o s pe cei e managing c uise ou ism o be
mo e easible han managing o he ypes o ou ism because he c uise ships, compa ed o
buses o ca s coming ia land, a e highly egula ed h ough exis ing ha bo equi emen s.
Mo eo e , he passenge s heading asho e o u he ou on ou s a e usually o ganized
h ough ou is ope a o s and s ay in g oups, which makes hem mo e manageable. Al hough
many pe cei e c uise ou ism o be mo e manageable, many local s akeholde s we spoke wi h
exp essed a p e e ence o land-based ou is s, due o he c owding o small communi ies
du ing peak hou s on c uise days as well as he en i onmen al, isual, and noise- ela ed
pollu ions caused by he c uise ships.
2.2 Human esou ces, knowledges, and compe encies
All he case loca ions in his s udy, excep Nuuk, ha e s ong deg ees o seasonali y in hei
capaci y o ca e o incoming ou is s and hi ing s aff. Cu en ly, many ope a o s lack human
esou ces and s uggle o main ain qualified s aff wi h he equi ed local knowledge and c uise
expe ise. This endency was u he exace ba ed du ing and a e he COVID-19 pandemic,
when many people in he ou ism sec o los hei jobs, esul ing in a b ain-d ain o
expe ienced s aff. In Honnings åg, one s akeholde highligh ed he magni ude o he p oblem
by s a ing ha he acancies o job posi ions we e ha dly filled a e he pandemic. This
decline in a ailable wo k o ce is unp eceden ed and has posed addi ional difficul ies o
ou ism businesses in main aining hei ope a ions and deli e ing quali y se ices. Mo eo e ,
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human esou ces, knowledges, expe iences, and compe encies a e closely ela ed o he
achie emen o social and economic sus ainabili y in he case loca ions. In he ollowing, we
conside he issues o s affing and ec ui men , wages and employmen condi ions, and he
impo ance o mul iple skills and compe encies.
2.2.1 S affing and ec ui men
O en, ou ism pe sonnel a e hi ed om ou side he communi ies and a e employed only
du ing he peak seasons.5 The e a e se e al issues ela ed o hi ing employees om ou side
he communi y o egion: I a pe son does no eside in he municipali y, he ax e enues o
he municipali y a e los and he wo ke ’s sala y is mainly spen elsewhe e. In addi ion, se e al
s akeholde s exp ess dissa is ac ion wi h he knowledge base o ou side s, pa icula ly when
wo king as ou is guides. Fo example, in Lo o en, some guides a i e om T omsø only when
o e seas c uise essels call in Leknes ha bo , and he e ha e been p oblems wi h o eign
guides aking he ou is s on dange ous moun ain pa hs no ecommended o inexpe ienced
climbe s. In many o he case loca ions, he e is a high dependency on ex e nal guides du ing
he sho summe season. These guides mus also ha e he necessa y skills and expe ience
o p o ide gues s wi h a comp ehensi e unde s anding o na u e, including specialized
knowledge such as ma ine biology. The sca ci y o qualified se ice and ou ism wo ke s, as
well as language compe encies, is a p essing issue. One s akeholde in Lo o en highligh ed
ha hei job acancies we e ha dly filled a e he pandemic. This decline in a ailable
wo k o ce is unp eceden ed and poses difficul ies o ou ism businesses in main aining hei
ope a ions and deli e ing high-quali y se ices.
When s aff a e hi ed om ou side he communi ies hey a e o en ained on he job. In Al a,
guides who a e hi ed o wo k wi h c uise ou is s may be in e na ional s uden s and/o
esiden s. They go h ough a sho educa ional p og am o ganized by he incoming ou
ope a o o amilia ize hemsel es wi h he guiding p o ession and he specific opics o he
offe ed guided ou s. Guides wi h addi ional language skills beyond English—such as Ge man,
I alian, o F ench—a e highly sough a e . In Ísa jö ðu , mos ou ope a o s do no equi e
guides o ha e comple ed o mal aining, howe e , hey equi e all ou ism businesses o
hold a alid license om he Icelandic Tou ism Boa d, and mos ope a o s do no wo k wi h
unlicensed ac o s. S akeholde s exp ess ha hey p e e ha companies use local s aff and
guides o c uise handling a he han hi ing people om he capi al, Reykja ík. In
Honnings åg, se ice p o ide s ely on hei in e nal and ex e nal ne wo ks o ec ui seasonal
wo ke s. To secu e s affing, public au ho i ies and p i a e ac o s ha e also es ablished a
p epa a o y cou se ocused on ou ism and guiding a he uppe seconda y school in
Honnings åg. Se e al en ep eneu s om diffe en companies se e as u o s o men o s o
he s uden s, p o iding hem wi h aluable hands-on knowledge and expe ience. The DMO
has also es ed an inno a i e app oach by in ol ing local pupils as men o s o he c uise
passenge s who a i e du ing he off season on Hu ig u en c uises.
5 Nuuk s ands ou among he s udied des ina ions in ha i has no sho age o sha ed spaces and acili ies, no o
people o employ in he ou ism sec o .
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2.2.2 Employmen condi ions and a ac i eness
Many en ep eneu s in he ou ism indus y a e encoun e ing challenges in ec ui ing s aff o
he ou ism season ela ed o bo h he economic and social sus ainabili y o ou ism
businesses. Jus as in many o he places, he younge gene a ion in Honnings åg ends o be
less willing o wo k o e ime o du ing e enings and nigh s. I a c uise boa a i es la e a nigh
and depa s ea ly in he mo ning, i equi es employees o be a wo k du ing uncon en ional
hou s. To secu e he s affing, some smalle businesses in Honnings åg ha e become awa e
o he necessi y o c ea e an a ac i e wo king en i onmen . Fo example, a gene al manage
o a p i a e bus company allows hei employees o define hei own asks and collabo a i ely
plan hei ac i i ies oge he , knowing ha he s aff would o en find he bes solu ions. This
app oach os e s a sense o us , sa is ac ion, and con ibu ion o he common goal o
p o iding he bes possible se ice o cus ome s.
In Nuuk, G eenland’s capi al ci y wi h a la ge pool o wo ke s, some s akeholde s exp ess ha
i is easie o find G eenlandic employees and ha his is an impo an aspec o he social
sus ainabili y o c uise ou ism. Howe e , as ou ism is expec ed o g ow because o he new
in e na ional ai po , he e a e conce ns abou how o p ese e he high employmen o local
s aff. Fu he mo e, guides in Nuuk no e ha wages a e no e y good and ha he e a e
p oblems wi h e aining s aff.
Fu he mo e, in many case loca ions, some en ep eneu s ely solely on hemsel es and hei
own iends and amily, calling upon hem o assis ance in case o eme gencies o illness,
especially in he case o amily-owned businesses. S ill, his dependence on close connec ions
makes he companies pa icula ly ulne able, especially i business owne s wish o e i e.
Rega ding sus ainabili y, i came up in discussions in Lo o en ha some s akeholde s ocus
mainly on he en i onmen al aspec s, such as li e ing and selling local p oduc s, whe eas he
social aspec s o hi ing and e aining local s aff a e o en o e looked. The social and economic
sus ainabili y o small A c ic communi ies a e abou no only secu ing decen and s able
incomes om c uise ou ism, bu also sus aining cu en and u u e inhabi an s in hese
communi ies. In se e al cases in Honnings åg, he younge gene a ions may exp ess in e es
in aking o e he amily business bu a e discou aged by he example se by hei pa en s,
lea ing hem hesi an o pu sue a ca ee in he ou ism indus y. Al hough Honnings åg has
plen y o a ac i e quali y-o -li e offe ings, such as unlimi ed access o wild na u e, he
unce ain ies su ounding paid labo wi hin ou ism makes i a less a ac i e employmen
oppo uni y o young people. Unless hey find o he local employmen op ions, hey will mos
likely mig a e elsewhe e.
2.2.3 Mul iple skills and compe encies
To sell p oduc s and expe iences o incoming ou is s aboa d c uise ships, i is necessa y o
possess knowledge abou he c uise indus y, as well as p o essional skills—and, o en,
pe sonal ne wo k connec ions. This mean ha ou ism s akeholde s wi h long ack eco d in
ca e ing o c uise a e he ones who ge he mos business ou o c uise—and, unsu p isingly,
a e he ones mos ecep i e o c uise ou ism in gene al. In Al a, he p ac ices o local c uise
dispa che s, who a e essen ial o o ganizing c uise a i als, ely hea ily on aci knowledge
and expe ience. Good social skills and ela ions—wi h, o example, bus d i e s—a e
17
impo an o ha e ull con ol, because he dispa che mus deli e an accu a e epo o he
cus ome s who ha e o de ed he dispa ch ( o example, C uise No way). The epo mus
include in o ma ion abou when he buses ha e a i ed and le , why hey we e la e (i ha
was he case), which and how many ou is s wen on which ip, and mus p o ide he co ec
numbe o sending in oices. O en, he local c uise dispa che has yea s o expe ience and
has been ained by expe ienced men o s. In Honnings åg, o effec i ely manage he ou ism
flows, ou ism s akeholde s ha e lea ned o adap by elying on in o mal ne wo ks. In ecen
yea s, he de elopmen o mo e o mal ne wo ks suppo ed by public, EU, and na ional
unding schemes ha e also eme ged. These o mal ne wo ks p o ide addi ional suppo and
esou ces o he ou ism indus y, enhancing hei abili y o manage and add ess he
challenges associa ed wi h ou ism flows on he island. Howe e , hese effo s would be e en
mo e efficien i mo e economic benefi s we e o emain in he municipali y o con inue
imp o ing he physical in as uc u e and o he necessi ies. In G eenland, he economic cos s
and alue o c uise ha e long been up o public deba e, and s akeholde s ag ee ha is unclea
wha hese a e, and ha knowledge and da a a e lacking.
To enhance he local knowledge base and sha e expe iences, indi iduals in manage ial o
leade ship posi ions in Al a o en o a e be ween diffe en o ganiza ions wi hin he ou ism
sec o , b inging hei skills, knowledge, and compe encies om one o ganiza ion o ano he .
In Ísa jö ðu , he ou agen s and he majo ou ope a o s wo k closely oge he . In addi ion,
he e a e a ew independen ou ism businesses ha ope a e ou side o he p e-booked
excu sions o guided walking ou s wi hou he c uise lines’ o ou agen s’ in ol emen .
Th ough his p ac ice, he ope a o s can sell hei ou s mo e cheaply o c uise ou is s (and
pe haps a ac mo e gues s), because he p e-booked ou p ices offe ed by he c uise line
a e a highe .
Success ul c uise calls ely no only on he skills and compe encies o local s akeholde s bu
also on hose o he ship’s c ew. Fo example, in Nuuk, he loss o expe ienced c ew wo ke s
some imes caused us a ion among local ou ope a o s who el ha hei local knowledge
o how o bes o ganize ou s mos efficien ly was igno ed by new c ew membe s. As c uise
ou ism s a s up again pos -pandemic, he e a e many new c ew membe s onboa d he
c uise ships who ha e ne e be o e isi ed Nuuk. Ac oss he case loca ions he e a e, o e all,
many simila challenges wi h hi ing knowledgeable and p o essional s aff bu also wi h gi ing
people employmen oppo uni ies h oughou he whole yea . Bo h a e impo an o achie e
economic and social sus ainabili y in he A c ic coas al communi ies; hese conce ns a e also
i al o a ac people o se le long- e m and o keep younge gene a ions om mo ing away.
2.3 Tempo ali ies o c uise
2.3.1 On/off c uise
When a c uise ship a i es, i o en b ings a hea y concen a ion o incoming ou is s o A c ic
des ina ions. He e, hese mic o-dynamics on c uise days a e e e ed o as “on/off c uise
empo ali ies.” To accommoda e so many isi o s du ing concen a ed imes, ha bo s o en
se up empo a y acili ies o in as uc u e on c uise days. Beyond he ha bo , he c uise
s akeholde s a e in ol ed wi h hese on/off se ings in diffe en ways. In Honnings åg and
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Al a, his has led o he c ea ion o pop-up ou is ac i i ies ha a e a anged jus o he
occasion. An impo an aspec o he empo ali y o c uise isi s is ha ou ism businesses
and employees ha e quie days in be ween peak days. The main season is so hec ic ha
people in he ou ism sec o mus wo k long days. On days when he e a e no c uise a i als,
he local communi y can ake a b eak, b ea he ou , and echa ge o he nex busy day o
a i als.
When i comes o sho , in ense isi s, some des ina ions p io i ize he c uise-based ou is s
o e he land-based ou is s, le ing hem access ou s a diffe en imes du ing he day. The
lack o flexibili y among sho - e m c uise isi o s means ha he ou s offe ed canno adap
oo much o he wea he o o he ci cums ances. This also gi es he ope a o s and guides
li le ime o c ea e a connec ion wi h he isi o s. In addi ion, bad wea he o o he
ci cums ances can lead o dissa is ac ion and complain s om c uise ou is s who ha e
limi ed ime a he des ina ion. Some ou is s a e ex emely conscious o he iming o ou s
and ge ing wha hey ha e paid o . Ope a o s may wo y abou cus ome s complaining o
he c uise line and, as a consequence, ge ing paid less. In Al a and Nuuk, dissa is ac ion and
complain s ha e become bigge issues a e he COVID-19 pandemic since gues s ha e
become ex a p ice-conscious. The s anda diza ion and inflexibili y o c uise ou ism means
ha many esiden s and ope a o s p e e land-based ou is s. The e a e also hose who
exp ess ha hey “ge hei own back” in he e ening o a c uise day o when he c uise season
is o e .
Al hough c uise ope a o s ha e hei i ine a ies eady long in ad ance, he ac ual planning o
each loca ion o be isi ed can be sho . This can make i difficul o s akeholde s o p edic
and plan o c uise days. Some imes guiding companies only ge o know he numbe o ou
a endees one day in ad ance. This can pose challenges o sigh s such as museums ha
canno s ay open unless hey know he e will be incoming gues s. In Lo o en, many people
book indi idual ips, which gi es he DMO less con ol o e how he ou is s a e sp ead ou
on he islands. This lack o o e iew can also inc ease he compe i ion be ween local
s akeholde s. Ano he d awback o hea y eliance on c uise ou is s is he impac i has on
companies p o iding ad en u e expe iences o local es au an s. In Honnings åg, he
unce ain y su ounding he exac a i al imes, gues s’ g oup sizes, and po en ial delays
c ea es a “s anding by” si ua ion o hese companies. They a e o ced o alloca e esou ces
o handle logis ical ma e s ins ead o ocusing on deli e ing excep ional expe iences and
quali y o hei gues s. To ely hea ily on c uise can also hinde inno a ion and he
de elopmen o new ou ism expe iences. Popula p oduc s, such as isi s o No h Cape,
ha e emained unchanged o many yea s. S ill, as he c uise ma ke e ol es, he e is a need
o he des ina ions o come up wi h new p oduc s and/o enhance exis ing ones o mee
ou is s’ changing demands and expec a ions and o gene a e mo e alue o local businesses
and des ina ions.
To conclude, isks exis ela ed o sho -no ice cancella ions o c uise ships and hei booked
ac i i ies. Fo example, i ou s a e canceled, he e may be no compensa ion p o ided, as
paymen s o ou s a e made only a e he isi . Thus, elying solely on incoming c uise
ou is s inc eases economic ulne abili y. In a ew places, such as Lo o en, he e a e examples
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o unc ional compensa ion schemes o compensa e o economic and o he losses ela ed o
la e cancella ions.
2.3.2 Seasonali y
An impo an aspec o A c ic c uise ou ism is i s seasonali y. Lo o en, Honnings åg, Nuuk,
and Ísa jö ðu a e mainly summe des ina ions (June o Augus ), whe eas Al a is mainly a
win e des ina ion (Feb ua y o Ap il).6 Seasonali y is men ioned by some s akeholde s as a
se ious challenge o local businesses, many o whom find i difficul o main ain a business
when hey ea n an income du ing only a sho pe iod o he yea . I also makes i difficul o
p o ide people wi h ull- ime jobs in he ou ism indus y when seasons a e only h ee o ou
mon hs long. In Lo o en, he e a e massi e a ia ions in he need o s aff be ween c uise and
non-c uise days. This demands flexible and o en hou -based con ac s, which a e gene ally
una ac i e o wo ke s. Hence, seasonal wo ke s a e ec ui ed om beyond he Lo o en
Islands, e en om ou side No way.
In Nuuk, al hough land-based ou is s and con e ence a endees p o ide yea - ound ou ism,
one s akeholde exp essed conce ns abou ha ing oo ew missions o gi e guides because
he e a e only ou s once o wice a week. As a esul , hese guides need ano he income om
ou side he ou ism indus y. Some s akeholde s a gue ha i is good o ha e guides who ha e
o he jobs because hey can ecoun de ails abou e e yday li e in he own. These added
de ails a e o en pe cei ed by ou is s as pa o high-quali y guiding. In Ísa jö ðu , ou is
guides ha e wo k only in he summe and mus ha e o he occupa ions in he win e , such as
being eache s o s uden s. Al hough hey ha e local knowledge, hey lack o mal aining as
ou is guides. This includes in e na ional s uden s in Ísa jö ðu who wo k as guides in he
school holidays. The communi y sees hese s uden s wi h ich language skills as g ea asse s
ha bo h ge he s uden s o s ay in he communi y du ing summe and encou age some o
s ay in Ísa jö ðu a e g adua ion. In Nuuk, ou is guides a e o en hi ed locally and a e no
necessa ily p o essionally ained; many a e local s uden s ained on he job.
Ve y in ense ou is seasons can also exhaus he local ou is s akeholde s. As such, in Al a,
he e a e discussions abou be e coo dina ing ou ism be e o educe he numbe o c uise
a i als du ing la ge seasonal e en s, such as he la ge, annual Finnma k dog sledding ace.
When ou is s a i e in Al a all a once, i c ea es an o e all esou ce sho age o expe ience
and se ice offe s. In Nuuk, one s akeholde aised he conce n ha du ing eigh mon hs o
he yea , he e a e a oo many buses a ound, whe eas du ing he ou c uise ou ism
mon hs, he e a e a oo ew. None heless, he ela i ely ew days wi h c uise calls du ing he
summe mon hs p o ide e y impo an sou ces o income o ou ope a o s and hei
supplie s. On he o he hand, ex ending he ou ism season beyond he summe mon hs can
also lead o s affing p oblems. In Honnings åg, he e a e indica ions o some en ep eneu s
willing o ex end he ou is season o include Ap il–May and Sep embe –Oc obe . Howe e ,
small-scale ou ism p o ide s, such as ac i i y ope a o s and ou s guides, may ha e
difficul ies ex ending hei ac i i ies acco dingly due o he low a ailabili y o s aff. Guides and
o he hospi ali y wo ke s adi ionally a i e on he island du ing he peak summe pe iod,
6 The e is an ongoing end in which he numbe o c uise a i als g ows du ing sp ing and summe (as in he case
o Al a), and ha he summe season also ex ends in o sp ing and au umn (as in Honnings åg).
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bu ex ending he season means ha s aff a e needed in Honnings åg o a longe du a ion.
Many a e ypically s uden s o o he s wi h seasonal wo k in he ou ism indus y, who canno
commi o wo k a e he end o Augus when he summe season adi ionally ends in
No he n No way.
Al hough he seasonali y o c uise ou ism can cause se ious challenges o small businesses
and communi ies wi h limi ed pools o wo ke s, i can also make i possible o some o
main ain a yea - ound business. In some places, he c uise season can p o ide enough
e enues and esou ces o be able o ca e o land-based ou is s du ing he off-c uise season.
In Ísa jö ðu , he seasonali y o c uise ou ism means ha people wea many ha s. Many
people who un ou ism businesses in he summe ha e o he ypes o esponsibili ies in he
win e . Some a e, o example, in ol ed in local poli ics, o ha e a job in a comple ely diffe en
field du ing he off season. The ac ha people wea many ha s is conside ed an asse o he
communi y. People can jump in o diffe en oles i needed and people migh ha e a mo e
holis ic, o p eca ious idea—depending on he pe spec i e—o how hings wo k wi hin he
communi y.
As shown in he examples abo e, seasonali y is an issue being deal wi h by employing
empo a y s aff, such as seasonal wo ke s o in e na ional s uden s li ing in he owns.
Al hough some wish o ex end he c uise season o ea n an income and employ people du ing
mo e mon hs o he yea , longe ou is seasons can also c ea e p oblems o o he s.
Employing s aff o a longe pe iod o finding sui able eplacemen s can be a challenge o
small-scale p o ide s, impac ing hei abili y o mee demands o e an ex ended season.
O e all, in all fi e case loca ions, many o he s akeholde s would p e e o offe yea - ound
employmen and ge he empo a y wo ke s o s ay o he long e m. This would ex end he
ou is season, secu e local yea - ound jobs, and benefi he communi ies’ popula ions.
Howe e , o he s p e e a sho , in ense season so ha hey can ake a b eak and do o he
hings du ing he es o yea . Unsu p isingly, diffe en people ha e diffe en p e e ences and
place diffe en alues on c uise ou ism o hei communi ies. In wha ollows, we examine
he economic, social, and en i onmen al alues iden ified in he fi e case loca ions.
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3 THE VALUES OF CRUISE TOURISM
The e a e economic, social, and en i onmen al alues a ached o he con inua ion and
de elopmen o c uise ou ism in A c ic communi ies. The economic alue is pe haps he mos
ob ious and is o en ega ded as he mos impo an eason o hos c uise ou is s. The
COVID-19 pandemic made i clea o some o he communi ies jus how much hey depended
economically on incoming c uise ships. In Nuuk, one s akeholde no ed ha one c uise ship
can b ing as many ou bookings as a whole mon h o land-based ou is s. Al hough economic
alue is c ea ed when a des ina ion’s ou ism sec o c ea es jobs, employs local people, pays
axes, and sells p oduc s o expe iences o he ou is s, he e is ye ano he majo income
om c uise ou ism: The ha bo s, which in many cases a e owned by he municipali y, o en
ge paid di ec ly when a c uise ship a i es and can decide on he ees o cha ge o
accommoda ing he diffe en ypes o ships. Howe e , when i comes o he economic alue
c ea ed in he communi ies by c uise ou ism, i is difficul o es ima e exac ly how much o
he income s ays in he communi y. In some cases, o eign companies wi h o eign wo ke s
ha e en e ed he local ou ism scene; no only do hey no employ people om he local
communi y, bu hey also b ing mos o hei own gea and p o isions (bough elsewhe e),
and hey a e no equi ed o pay business and employe axes o he local municipali y.
The social alue o c uise ou ism is o en closely ela ed o he employmen oppo uni ies
ha c uise ou ism p o ides o he local inhabi an s. Thus, c uise ou ism may help suppo a
pe manen popula ion in small A c ic communi ies. Fo example, Al a municipali y is ocused
on inc easing he a ac i eness o he communi y o en ice people o li e and wo k in Al a all
yea ound. Many Al a esiden s wo k in he ou ism indus y and a e connec ed o he c uise
indus y as employees. In his way, hos ing c uise ou is s is key o allowing some case
loca ions o ha e ou ism (and pe manen popula ions) h oughou he yea . Social alue is
also de i ed om he exchange o expe iences be ween hos s and ou is s. Many
s akeholde s exp essed a p e e ence o c uise ou is s who a e espec ul o local cus oms
and he en i onmen , who ollow guidelines, and who show a genuine in e es in he
communi y’s his o y, na u e, and adi ions. Many s akeholde s conside showcasing hei
own in he bes possible ligh o an in e na ional audience as being equally aluable as he
economic e enues ha come wi h c uise ou ism.
Su p isingly, al hough c uise ships pe se canno be a gued o be en i onmen ally iendly,
hei p esence in A c ic communi ies has b ough en i onmen al alue o some o he
s akeholde s we in e iewed in his s udy. The p esence o c uise ships— hei emissions and
isual pollu ion, he sudden c owding o ou is s on he s ee s, and amoun s o was e
handling needed—has in some cases inc eased he en i onmen al awa eness o local
inhabi an s and led o mo e sus ainable p ac ices, such as p o ec ion o hiking pa hs and
u ning off buses while pa ked in he ha bo .
3.1 The desi ed s a e o c uise ou ism
The economic, social, and en i onmen al alues ha s akeholde s ha e ound o s em om
c uise ou ism, as men ioned abo e, lead us o he o e all ques ion: Wha ype o c uise ou ism
do he s akeholde s in he fi e cases wan ? We ha e highligh ed wo desi ed s a es o c uise
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ou ism: (1) ge ing local con ol o e incoming c uise ships, and hus con ol o e he
numbe s o incoming ou is s, as well as how many ships be h simul aneously and o how
long; and (2) ge ing a c uise ou ism ha is he bes fi o he des ina ion, balancing be ween
c uise-based and land-based ou ism, as well as ecei ing espec ul and in e es ed ou is s
who also would like o spend money locally. None heless, many o he s akeholde s we
in e iewed iew c uise ou ism as a no mal pa o he ou ism mix and some hing hey mus
deal wi h, ega dless o whe he hey p e e c uise ou ism.
3.1.1 Local con ol o incoming c uise ships and ou is s
S akeholde s in all fi e case loca ions exp essed a desi e o con ol and manage he numbe s
o isi o s o hei des ina ion. Howe e , he esponsibili ies and possibili ies o con olling
he incoming c uise ships and ou is s a e mani old and in ol e ou le els: in e na ional,
na ional, egional, and local.7 In he backg ound is he o e all wo y ha a des ina ion migh
be d opped om he c uise ships’ i ine a ies i oo many egula ions o demands a e imposed.
Al hough he e a e examples ac oss he A c ic o sel -go e nance dealing wi h he expedi ion
c uise ope a o s, such as Hu ig u en in No way, such mechanisms a e absen o o e seas
essels. Locally con olled c uise ou ism is also locally ancho ed and managed and canno be
highjacked by ou side ac o s.
In all he fi e case loca ions we ha e s udied, none o he c uise s akeholde s wan o be in a
si ua ion whe e hey a e o e whelmed by he incoming c uise ships and c uise ou is s. Thus,
many wish o be able o con ol wha ype o ships and ou is s should be p io i ized. Some
would like o s ic ly egula e o e en s op welcoming mass c uise ou ism and e y la ge
c uise ships. Consequen ly, in many cases he e a e ongoing discussions abou he
possibili ies o limi ing he amoun o c uise ships, namely whe he his is possible and who
has he au ho i y o make such decisions. In small A c ic communi ies, whe e people wea
many ha s bo h as s akeholde s in he c uise ou ism indus y bu also ou side o i , i can be
difficul o one ac o o ake he fi s s ep owa d a comp ehensi e assessmen o he impac s
o c uise ship handling. Many people hink ha he maximum numbe o ou is s has al eady
been eached bu a e hesi an o be he fi s o aise he issue o se ing s ic limi s. Also, ew
s akeholde s know who has he o e all esponsibili y and who can decide he o e all
condi ions o he c uise des ina ions. Fo example, a s akeholde in Nuuk asked who has he
igh s o “push he ed bu on” and pu a cap on c uise ou ism. Cu en ly, he ex en o c uise
ou ism o G eenland is con olled by he ma ke because po agen s book slo s a he ha bo
on behal o c uise lines, and he e is no egula ion o he decisions abou whe he , how o en,
and o how long c uise ships call in Nuuk. I he e is ha bo space a ailable, po s ha e no
au ho i y o ejec ships.
7 All c uise ships ope a ing in A c ic wa e s a e co e ed by he Pola Code, which egula es ships’ design and
cons uc ion, ma i ime sa e y, c uise ope a ions, and en i onmen al p o ec ion. In addi ion, he e a e he laws o
p o ec ion o he ma ine en i onmen and o p ese a ion o cul u al his o y, which o bid any dis u bance o , o
example, g a es, uins, o hun ing s uc u es. When i comes o he o ganiza ion o c uise ou ism, he e a e na ional
o ganiza ions, such as C uise No way and C uise Iceland, which ep esen common in e es s o he na ional c uise
indus y in la ge o ums.
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Po axa ion is an impo an pa o he go e nance o c uise ou ism. O en c uise essels
ha call a he po s in he s udied des ina ions a e cha ged an adminis a ion ee, a quay ee
o he po au ho i y o he usage o he quay acco ding o leng h o s ay (minimum 24 hou s),
and a ha bo ee ha co e s he po au ho i y’s cos s ela ed o acili a ing sa e y and
accessibili y in he ha bo ai way. Addi ionally, he c uise passenge s may also be cha ged a
pe -pe son ee by he po au ho i y. Fo example, in he Po o Al a, passenge s mus pay 10
No wegian k one pe pe son. Howe e , such con ol by he ha bo au ho i ies (i.e., using
se e al ees) may lead o a cancella ion o po calls. Fu he mo e, in small communi ies,
people a e o en highly dependen on one ano he , and one c i ical oice can jeopa dize
o he s’ business and he many s akeholde s’ dependency on income om c uise ou ism. This
ela es o a widesp ead p oblem wi h c uise ou ism o he A c ic communi ies: lack o
compensa ion o canceled ou is ac i i ies. E en wi h yea s and mon hs o p epa a ion in
he case loca ions, c uise calls may be canceled wi h only a ew hou s’ no ice i , o example,
he wea he is bad o he ship is lagging behind i s schedule. When a po call is canceled, local
ou ope a o s and hei supplie s lose one day o he c uise season, along wi h e y significan
income. As one pa o ha ing some local con ol, many local ope a o s and c uise ou ism
p o ide s wan o implemen a cancella ion ee o he c uise companies o ensu e ha hey
a e compensa ed o such un eco e able cos s. In his way, he cancella ion o a po call
would educe he economic losses om canceled ou is ac i i ies al eady p epa ed a he
des ina ions.
The Eu opean C uise Agency sells p oduc s and se ices o c uise companies ha i buys om
local des ina ions. The booking p ocess means ha he sale o on-land ac i i ies is channeled
h ough onboa d agen s ha pu chase ou is expe iences om he incoming ou ope a o ,
which in u n has a anged deals wi h he local ou ism p o ide s. In Al a, c uise ou ism is
o ganized by a local incoming ou ope a o ha collabo a es di ec ly wi h he c uise
companies, booking local expe iences and se ices ia he local agency, which u he
dis ibu es gues s and income in o he local ou ism communi y. The local agency con ols
con ac wi h he c uise companies and la ge c uise agencies such as Eu opean C uise Agency
and C uise No way. They a e also esponsible o he quali y o expe iences and se ices
deli e ed by he indi idual ou ism p o ide s in Al a. This sys em, wi h i s many
in e media ies, o en leads o a misma ch be ween wha c uise ou is s pay o ou s and
se ices, and wha is paid o he local p o ide s, ou ope a o s, o guides. This also c ea es a
misma ch be ween he ou is s’ expec ed alue o money and he ac ual expe ience ha he
local p o ide s can deli e .
In he fi e loca ions s udied in his epo , c uise ou ism s akeholde s coo dina e and
collabo a e in diffe en ways. These in e ac ions happen h ough bo h o mal and in o mal
ne wo ks as well as ia coope a ion wi h s akeholde s esponsible o o he p ac ices, such as
local businesses and museums. In Nuuk, all he c uise ou ism s akeholde s ga he o a
mee ing be o e he c uise season begins o discuss any po en ial p oblems and imp o emen s
ha could be made. To include ep esen a ion om he many small-scale ope a o s, he
Associa ion o A c ic Expedi ion C uise Ope a o s (AECO) has been es ablished. Th ough
AECO, c uise ou ism ope a o s a e also being ep esen ed in la ge ne wo k mee ings, as i
can be difficul o smalle ope a o s o p io i ize long mee ings in hei e e yday wo k.
O e all, coo dina ion and collabo a ion among local c uise ou ism s akeholde s is cen al o
30
In es ing in, and p epa ing he physical in as uc u e o accommoda e c uise ou ism has
also been c ucial in Al a and Lo o en,
including c ea ing spaces capable o hos ing
la ge g oups o ou is s. In Lo o en, se e al
discussions conce n inc easing oad capaci y
and necessa y adjus men s o a ic olume.
Examples o p oposed solu ions include
es ablishing p i a e pa king spo s (on land
owned by local a me s) nea main a ac ions
ha can be used by shu le buses. In Al a, i
has been impo an o b ing oge he ou ism
s akeholde s so ha hey can coope a e
sys ema ically. I is also impo an ha la ge
in es men s and po en ial g ow h in ou is
olumes benefi no only he es ablished and
expe ienced ou is p o ide s, who o en
ha e he capaci y o handle la ge numbe s
and in es in equipmen and esou ces o
ca e o inc easing demands—and, hus,
make ein es men s.
The municipali y o Nuuk in es ed wo million
Danish K one o imp o e isi o expe iences
o bo h c uise- and land-based ou is s. This
in es men a ge ed, among o he hings, he imp o emen o signs o in- own a ac ions
and he de elopmen o mo e hiking ou es. In Honnings åg, he municipali y buil a public
oile nea he ha bo . Addi ionally, a c owd unding campaign aised unds o he
cons uc ion o a s one ail leading o he highes moun ain op in Honnings åg, wi h he aim
o p ese ing he agile na u al en i onmen while making he hiking ail sa e and mo e
accessible. In all h ee examples, he in es men s p o ided se ices o ou is s and local
inhabi an s alike.
Howe e , he e a e challenges ela ed o he c ea ion o oo many adap a ions and
in as uc u e imp o emen s o he c uise ou ism indus y, such as c uise e minals and
isi o cen e s, in places ha ecei e only seasonal flows o c uise ou is s. Because such
in as uc u e may no be used all yea ound, i may be wise o in es in flexible s uc u es o
pop-up op ions in some o he case loca ions o accommoda e fluc ua ions in he numbe s o
isi o s h oughou he yea .
4.4 Regula ing
Na ions, municipali ies, and communi ies can implemen diffe en measu es o egula e
c uise affic. Among hese a e in oducing c uise axes o ees, se ing condi ions o he
du a ion o a ha bo s ay, and es ablishing e ms o limi a ions on he numbe s o c uise
a i als o c uise gues s. Municipali ies can also p omo e guidelines o ou ism ac i i ies,
which we see in many o ou des ina ions whe e communi y speci ic guidelines ha e been
de eloped oge he wi h AECO. Al hough such guidelines a e olun a y, hey can be acili a ed
BOX 3. INVESTMENTS INSPIRE
MORE INVESTMENTS.
EXAMPLE FROM DEVELOPING
THE PORT IN ÍSAFJÖRÐUR
The in es men s o inc ease he capaci y
o he po in Ísa jö ðu and o be e
accommoda e c uise ou ism alongside
o he indus ies can
con ibu e o
boos ing
he municipali y’s e enues
om c uise ou ism.
Impo an ly, hese in es men s ha e
also encou aged local companies o
in es in hei own businesses, such as
by de eloping new in as uc u e, buying
mo e buses
, and expanding hei
wo k o ce o accommoda e he inc ease
in c uise ou is s o he des ina ion.
31
h ough p icing s a egies, as desc ibed in sec ion 4.1. In Lo o en, coo dina ion among he
many municipali ies on he a chipelago, and pe haps e en wi h neighbo ing des ina ions
along he No wegian coas , may be necessa y o such guidelines o ha e ull e ec .
In he case s udies, we ound se e al ways ha economic
incen i es a e used o egula e and p omo e mo e
en i onmen ally iendly c uise ope a ions. The No wegian
ha bo s offe discoun s on ha bo (moo ing) ees o he
c uise ope a o s ha comply wi h ce ain en i onmen al
equi emen s. Howe e , such discoun s a e bu one
among many o he po en ially effec i e measu es. In
Lo o en, one s akeholde p oposed ha in addi ion o
gi ing economic discoun s, s ic e en i onmen al
egula ions (by he In e na ional Ma i ime O ganiza ion)
should be en o ced o educe he CO2 emissions om
c uise ships bo h a sea and while docking. Ano he
discussion in Lo o en conce ns he po en ial o
implemen ing a so-called “ ou is ax” o co-finance ou is
in as uc u e and he use o common esou ces. Al hough
his ax could help egula e he incoming numbe s o
ou is s o he islands, i also in inges upon he No wegian
p inciple o he eedom o oam (allemanns e en).
Addi ionally, he municipali ies and local popula ions in
Lo o en ha e been discussing wha he ca ying capaci y
o ou ism on he islands should be, es ablishing daily
limi s on he numbe o passenge s allowed in Reine and
Leknes (see Box 4 abo e). Howe e , i may be necessa y o
also coo dina e he flow o ou ism and limi he p essu e
on some oads in Lo o en, such as by egula ing he
numbe o buses be ween Leknes and Reine o a oid affic
jams. Coo dina ion among he municipali ies in Lo o en is
necessa y no only o educe he p essu e on exis ing in as uc u e, bu also o discuss
whe he and/o how in as uc u e can be de eloped u he . I is also impo an o p o ide
he local peoples wi h in o ma ion abou incoming c uise ships and o aise awa eness o
possible affic condi ions du ing peak hou s in summe when he e a e bo h many ou is s
coming wi h hei own ca s plus buses d i ing c uise ou is s o diffe en loca ions on he
islands.
When i comes o egula ing and educing he en i onmen al oo p in o c uise ou ism, a
a ie y o measu es a e a ailable o he fi e loca ions s udied he e. In Honnings åg, he DMO
has ini ia ed he p ocess o ob aining he Sus ainable Des ina ion Ce ifica ion om
Inno a ion No way, which equi es ha o ganiza ions and businesses unde ake sus ainable
ac ions. Howe e , some s akeholde s a e skep ical abou he eal benefi s o his ce ifica ion
o hei exis ing businesses and he powe dynamics ha d i e his de elopmen in
Honnings åg. In a mo e eac i e manne , he municipali y o Ísa jö ðu , oge he wi h he po
BOX 4. REGULATING
CRUISE VOLUMES IN
THE LOFOTEN
ISLANDS
In he Lo o en Islands, i has
become impo an o
discuss
he local ca ying
capaci y o c uise ou is s
isi ing he a chipelago a
he same ime.
In Moskenes municipali y, a
mee ing was held o discuss
he ma e o ca ying
capaci y wi h
ep esen a i es om he
local communi y and
businesses. The mee ing
esul ed in a decision o se
a maximum o 500
passenge s pe day.
Simila ly, in Leknes
municipali y, his maximum
has been se a 4,000
passenge s pe day.
32
au ho i y, ha e begun wo king on a ious ini ia i es a e ecei ing many complain s om
esiden s abou excessi e affic on busy c uise days as well as c uise ou is s dis espec ing
local esiden s’ p i acy. In esponse, hey now dis ibu e a bookle o e e y esiden a he
s a o each c uise season, con aining he c uise a i al schedule o be e p epa a ion, and
ha e also published a humo ous pamphle o guidelines o ad ise c uise ou is s on
app op ia e beha io in own. In addi ion, a dedica ed wo king g oup was asked wi h shaping
he u u e o Ísa jö ðu as a c uise des ina ion. The wo king g oup hos ed communi y
mee ings and su eys o gain a be e unde s anding o esiden s' wan s and needs, la e
publishing a epo wi h hei main findings, which hey p esen ed o he own council. As he
numbe o esiden s’ complain s has allen, hese effo s ha e been deemed success ul.
To egula e he c uise ou ism, and o impose equi emen s and demands on he indus y, i
is necessa y ha he e be collabo a ion and communica ion ac oss sec o s—wi hou which
he egula ions may nei he p o ide solu ions on he communi ies’ p oblems no be effec i e
a educing c uise ou ism’s nega i e effec s, whe he social o en i onmen al. I is also
impo an o ecognize ha diffe en ac o s ha e diffe en ba gaining powe s in egula ing
c uise. Fo example, he ha bo mas e s ha e a diffe en manda e and ba gaining posi ion o
se demands on he du a ion o a c uise ship’s s ay han a local business o ou ope a o .
4.5 Ne wo king
Ne wo king and collabo a ion among ac o s a diffe en le els is essen ial o hos ing c uise
ou is s. In Al a, he local incoming ou ope a o played a significan ole in b inging ou ism
p o ide s oge he when win e c uises we e in oduced in 2009. The ne wo king helped
secu e highe p ices o he ou ism p o ide s’ offe ings and ensu ed a highe quali y o he
p oduc s offe ed o he c uise ou is s. Howe e , he incoming ou ope a o is also a
ga ekeepe in Al a, selling ou s ia C uise No way, and in e na ional business o business ne wo k
o c uise po s and des ina ions in No he n & A lan ic Eu ope.“high-end” c uises, which is unde mined
by independen ou p o ide s. In Lo o en, c uise- ela ed s akeholde s—such as poli icians,
municipali ies, Des ina ion Lo o en,9 ou ism indus ies and o he ela ed companies—a e
uni ed in he Lo o en C uise Ne wo k. This ne wo k wo ks as a o um o discussing c uise
issues such as ou is axes, local esis ance o c uise ships, and he se ing o equi emen s
o he c uise companies. I also p o ides ecommenda ions o he municipali ies, which in
u n decide wha measu es should be financed and de eloped u he . Thus, one limi a ion o
he Lo o en C uise Ne wo k is i s abili y o influence he o e all c uise p ac ices, such as
limi ing he dis u bance o c uise ou ism on he local socie y and he local en i onmen .
In Nuuk, c uise ou ism s akeholde s coo dina e and collabo a e wi h one ano he h ough
o mal and in o mal ne wo ks. They also ne wo k and plan wi h s akeholde s ha a e
esponsible mainly o o he ac i i ies ela ed o c uise ou ism, such as po ac i i ies, local
businesses, and cul u al ac o s (see Box 5 on he ollowing page).
9 Des ina ion Lo o en is an official des ina ion company owned by he municipali ies and indus y.
33
In e iewed s akeholde s ci ed he need o a
designa ed local c uise coo dina o ha has
he ime o wo k wi h c uise- ela ed issues
ac oss he Lo o en Islands and o acili a e
mo e oppo uni ies o local alue c ea ion
om c uise. Cu en ly, he Lo o en C uise
Ne wo k has a sec e a y posi ion embedded
as pa o he wo k by Des ina ion Lo o en, bu
he 10 pe cen ime designa ed o c uise
ma e s is pe cei ed as a oo li le. Ano he
issue aised by he s akeholde s in Lo o en
was he need o communica e he benefi s
ha he c uise indus y b ings o Lo o en, as
well as he challenges and how he c uise
s akeholde s a e dealing wi h hem. The alue
c ea ion o Lo o en’s ha bo s and local
businesses, as well as he in as uc u e
imp o emen s in he Leknes ha bo a ea we e
wo examples o in o ma ion ha could be
mo e b oadly dissemina ed o he local
inhabi an s. The local esiden s o Lo o en
ha e diffe en pe cep ions and a i udes conce ning c uise ac i i ies. Some s akeholde s
exp essed ha i he esiden s we e made mo e awa e o how c uise ac i i ies a e o ganized,
c uise de elopmen would be iewed mo e posi i ely.
O e all, coo dina ion and ne wo king wi hin he c uise ou ism sec o , as well as
communica ion among s akeholde s and inhabi an s, a e cen al in all he case loca ions,
ega dless o whe he his occu s h ough la ge o ganiza ions o p o essional ne wo ks. To
communica e and exchange expe iences be ween c uise des ina ions is also a way o lea n
om o he s.
To conclude his chap e , p icing, inno a ing, in es ing, egula ing, and ne wo king a e ools
and p ac ices used by s akeholde s in all fi e case loca ions o maneu e wi hin he la ge
global and na ional s uc u es o c uise ou ism. Al hough hese fi e ools a e no mu ually
exclusi e, we ha e made a poin o highligh ing hem o exempli y good p ac ices o locally
influence c uise ou ism. Mo eo e , by ocusing on hese fi e ools, we hope o inspi e lea ning
ac oss he case loca ions and o spu discussions abou whe he he same egula ions in one
place can be used elsewhe e, o whe he ne wo ks need o be s eng hened and also made
mo e inclusi e o smalle ac o s. One conclusion is ha whe e he e is no o e all di ec ion o
c uise ou ism, he mul iple sus ainabili y challenges a e ha de o mee . Fo example, i he e
a e no coo dina ed effo s o keep p ices a a ce ain le el in o de o sus ain yea - ound
employmen o make conc e e effo s o minimize ca bon emissions (such as limi ing
numbe s o ou is s on a ou o using sus ainable means o anspo when possible), o he
ac o s may ake ad an age o he si ua ion and offe cheape ou s wi h ewe conside a ions
o he local employmen si ua ion and mi iga ion effo s. Ano he p oblem conce ns he
si ua ions whe e a lone ac o decides he di ec ion o c uise ou ism in a communi y. In such
BOX 5. COLLABORATION AND
REPRESENTATION IN NUUK
C uise ou ism s akeholde s in Nuuk hold
an annual
mee ing be o e he c uise
season begins o discuss po en ial
p oblems and imp o emen s ha could
be made. Many o he c uise ou ism
s akeholde s collabo a e wi hin he Nuuk
Ma i ime Ne wo k, which consis s o 50
ma i ime ac o s in Nuuk ac oss indus y,
educa ion, and he public sec o .
Howe e , many small-sized c uise
ope a o s ind hei ep esen a ion in he
ne wo k disp opo iona e compa ed wi h
ha o much la ge companies. Fo his
eason, he in e na ional Associa ion o
A c ic Expedi ion C uise Ope a o s (AECO)
se es o ep esen many smalle
companies and hei in e es s.
34
cases, o he (o en smalle ) ac o s may be excluded, and coo dina ed effo s o collec i ely
mee he sus ainabili y challenges and changes may be educed.
5 CONCLUSION: LIVING WITH THE TROUBLE
This epo p esen s he c oss-scale analysis o esea ch esul s om fi e A c ic coas al
communi ies ha hos c uise ou ism. As c uise ou ism in he A c ic is p edic ed o g ow,
he e a e conce ns abou i s possible impac s and, in some cases, he lack o capaci y o handle
such g ow h and de elopmen . Ou analysis iden ifies h ee key issues. The fi s is ela ed o
he necessi y o sha ing in as uc u e and spaces among c uise and o he indus ies, o he
ou is g oups, local inhabi an s, and o he species. In small A c ic communi ies, he e a e also
wo ies abou he second issue o local s affing and ec ui men , as well as he p ese a ion
o local knowledges and compe encies. The hi d issue is cha ac e ized by he on/off
empo ali ies and seasonal a ia ions o c uise de elopmen . O e all conce ns cen e a ound
he need o inc eased local con ol o e incoming c uise ships and ou is s—pa icula ly hei
numbe s and ypes— o balance a ailable esou ces be ween c uise and o he ou is s.
Th ough ex ensi e field isi s, obse a ions, and in e iews, we ha e explo ed he p ac ices
and ools de eloped by fi e A c ic communi ies o adap o, and li e wi h, c uise ou ism. Local
municipali ies, communi ies, ou is ope a o s, and businesses use p icing, inno a ion,
in es men , egula ion, and ne wo king o s ee c uise ou ism in a desi ed di ec ion. Cen al
o all fi e case loca ions a e ac i e discussions o he need o con ol wha he c uises can and
canno do. In some cases, he po s collec mos o he money om c uise calls (in he o ms
o ees and axes) while he bu den om c uise ope a ions alls on he local communi ies.
C uise ou ism de elopmen in he case loca ions is d i en by he need o local con ol and
an emphasis on wha he communi ies hemsel es wan . This c oss-case analysis add esses
he impo ance o lea ning and coope a ion ac oss sec o s wi hin he hos ing communi ies,
as well as ac oss he case loca ions o Ísa jö ðu , Nuuk, Honnings åg, Al a, and Lo o en.
Ou s udy shows ha local c uise s akeholde s and communi ies ha e much o gain om
exchanging in o ma ion and lea ning om one ano he ’s good p ac ices. Fo example, he use
o p icing in Al a, which now limi s he numbe o isi o s o Komsa Moun ain, has p o en
success ul in educing en i onmen al damage o he na u e su ounding he hiking pa hs, o
he enjoymen o bo h o ou is s and esiden s. To sol e he sho age o local guides du ing
he off season, school s uden s in Honnings åg ha e begun se ing as guides o c uise gues s,
gi ing hem wo king expe ience as well as an awa eness o c uise ou ism. This inno a i e
in ol emen also has he po en ial o in o m c uise passenge s o local and cul u al adi ions
and ways o li e ha hey o he wise would no expe ience.
In Ísa jö ðu , he in es men s made by he municipali y o accommoda e c uise ou ism ha e
also encou aged local companies o in es in hei own businesses, he eby c ea ing mo e
jobs wi hin he ou ism sec o . Ac oss he Lo o en Islands, he e ha e been mee ings in he
municipali ies wi h local s akeholde s, including esiden s, abou he islands’ ca ying capaci y
and he numbe o c uise passenge s he des ina ions a e able o hos . This has inc eased he
awa eness o a holis ic app oach o sus ainabili y and has yielded decisions o egula e he
daily olumes o c uise ou is s. Las ly, in Nuuk, c uise ou ism s akeholde s mee annually
35
be o e each c uise season o discuss ways o collabo a ing o imp o e om he p e ious
season. In hese discussions, he oices and in e es s o he smalle -sized c uise ope a o s a e
ensu ed h ough AECO.
Making demands and se ing s anda ds o he c uise indus y does no necessa ily lead o
less c uise affic. Howe e , i has been shown ha when local ac o s se g ound ules o how
c uise ou ism ac o s and ou is s should beha e while isi ing local communi ies, he “high-
end” c uise lines ollow hese ules o ge he highes -quali y expe iences. Fo example, by
demanding a minimum du a ion o o e nigh s ays o pu chases o a ce ain numbe o ou is
expe iences, local communi ies can inc ease bo h hei con ol and financial ea nings. All
hese ools and p ac ices a e ways o local s akeholde s o educe he oubles o c uise
ou ism, inc ease local con ol, and ensu e economic, social, and en i onmen al sus ainabili y.
Figu e 7. Le : C uise ship nea he No h Cape pla eau © A. Pashke ich. Righ : C uise ship in Lo o en
© J. Olsen.
36
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ii Viken e al., 2014
iii Hoa au-Heems a, H., Wigge , K., Olsen, J., & James, L. (2023). C uise ou ism des ina ions: P ac ices, consequences and he
oad o sus ainabili y. Jou nal o Des ina ion Ma ke ing & Managemen , 30, 100820.
i See Heikkinen, Bjø s , and Pashke ich, 2020; Lépy e al., 2014; Smi and Wandel, 2006
Sho e, Pan za , and Wa son 2012
i Ren, C., James, L., Pashke ich, A., & Hoa au-Heems a, H. (2021). C uise ouble. A p ac ice-based app oach o s udying A c ic
c uise ou ism. Tou ism Managemen Pe spec i es, 40, 100901.
ii Ren e al. 2017
