The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) welcomes the completion of the Destination Assessment of Corfu and Heraklion, two very popular cruise destinations in Greece, by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. This project was co-funded by CLIA in collaboration with the two municipalities and port authorities.
“I want to congratulate the cities of Corfu and Heraklion on this initiative and for successfully completing the GSTC 'Destination Assessment' process,” says CLIA's Managing Director for Europe, Marie-Caroline Laurent, adding that it is “a pleasure to have joined these two cities as part of our commitment to sustainable tourism.”.
CLIA – together with both municipalities and port authorities – has co-financed the 'Destination Assessment', demonstrating the industry's willingness to play an active role and directly support destinations.
“We are jointly investing in the success of cruise destinations. This type of tourism provides significant social and economic benefits to communities, and we want to help destinations manage tourism responsibly so they continue to be great places to live and visit,” says Marie-Caroline Laurent.
CLIA selected both cities because they are two of Greece's most popular cruise destinations and homeports. Corfu is one of the country's five busiest ports of call, and its Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Meanwhile, Heraklion has seen its popularity surge in recent years, taking the lead in the resumption of cruise activity after the pandemic-induced hiatus.
Ioannis Pappas, GSTC's director for the Mediterranean region and advisor to both destinations, explains that the 'Destination Assessment' of Corfu and Heraklion "has been carried out following the GSTC methodology, based on the GSTC Destination Criteria; with input from all stakeholders in the value chain, focusing on the areas of economy, society, culture and environment, and providing effective tools for a sustainable destination.".
CLIA is committed to the sustainable development of cruise destinations, constantly collaborating with cities around the world. “Protecting the cultural heritage and environment of favorite cruise destinations is a priority for CLIA and its members; we can only achieve this by sharing the same approach, working with local communities and leaders, port authorities, and other relevant stakeholders,” says Marie-Caroline Laurent.
CLIA and its members collaborate with destinations in a variety of ways, depending on the specific circumstances of each location. At the same time, CLIA and its members maintain ongoing dialogue with leading destinations to understand their challenges and work together to find solutions. CLIA also helps identify new cruise destinations, as well as new and alternative excursions in established destinations.
