What
Dubrovnik, Croatia, and Cruise Lines International Association have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to preserve and protect the city’s cultural heritage through responsible tourism management. They hope to establish the city as a model of sustainable tourism in the Adriatic region and beyond.
Why It Matters
Overtourism threatens many of the world’s landmarks. This partnership helps set an example for both heavily trafficked and emerging locales on how to promote sustainable tourism that will protect our global gems for future generations.
Fast Facts
- The MOU was signed by Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of CLIA, and Mato Frankovic, mayor of the City of Dubrovnik. It focuses on investment, collaboration and best practices for long-term destination management to the benefit residents and visitors.
- Immediate actions to be taken under the agreement include: Engaging key stakeholders including the local community and international organizations through establishing a dedicated working group; collaborating on a destination stewardship roadmap for the city based on UN sustainable tourism criteria; communicating and implementing the previously developed 2020 cruise ship berthing policy; and developing a Respect the City visitor education campaign.
- The city and CLIA are also exploring the possibility of a Dubrovnik World Heritage Visitor Center and Intermodal Transportation Center in Gruz Port.
- The agreement has been praised by destination stewardship experts including Randy Durband, CEO of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council
What They Are Saying
“The agreement validates the work we have already done with Frankovic and formalizes the cruise industry’s continued commitment to the City of Dubrovnik and its people,” Craighead said. “Signing of the MOU is an important step in developing innovative practices in sustainable tourism management with Frankovic and the city of Dubrovnik. We look forward to sharing specific action plans and our progress as we work together with the city and other tourism partners to support responsible tourism in this great city.”
“We have developed an open and trustworthy relationship with CLIA and its members over the last two years,” Frankovic said. “This commitment is just a beginning of a joint systematic, integrated and participative approach that will target some of the most important tourism issues locally and globally. Dubrovnik is first and foremost our home. We want to welcome guests and share our amazing home in a way that protects and preserves it. We hope this pioneering cooperation agreement will show the way to all relevant stakeholders including other destinations to work together to make our tourism and communities more sustainable, and our local people and our guests more satisfied.”
The Details
Cruise Lines International Association
www.cruising.org
Visit Croatia
www.visit-croatia.co.uk
