Page 50 - BILANCIO DI SOSTENIBILITÀ 2019 RISULTATI E PROSPETTIVE

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In terms of global deployment of cruise ships, in 2019 the Mediterranean was the second
most popular region after the Caribbean and – for this reason – it was an area of increased
demand and growth. In response to these trends while fostering sustainable local development,
Costa boosted its regional operations, strengthening its ties with the communities in the ports
of call and adding new itineraries in the Eastern Mediterranean for 2020, including the return
Itineraries and of Turkey and Israel. These analytics also involve Italy, Europe’s premier cruise destination,
development and particularly Ligurian ports, which is only fitting given that Liguria is where Costa Cruises
has its roots and headquarters. This is especially important in what has been an especially
difficult period for Liguria in terms of transport and logistics, following the Morandi Bridge
collapse. The Company decided to give tangible form to its ties with the region by assisting
with measures and collaborations in Genoa, Savona and La Spezia aimed at helping the
recovery of the Ligurian economy; indeed, Costa has always firmly believed – and continues
to invest – in Liguria. The return of Costa’s ships (in the shape of Costa Fortuna) to Genoa,
where the Company has been based for over 70 years, generated around 178,000 passenger
movements between March and November 2019. We also announced the construction of
a new cruise terminal accommodating next-generation ships and encouraging growth in
local tourism, thus confirming our determination to constitute an important and increasingly
substantial presence for the city. Similarly, Costa is involved in a collaboration to build a new
cruise terminal also in the port of La Spezia; this Group-level project will be a joint venture
2
between industry partners and the local authorities. The new facility will improve accessibility
to the area and provide the opportunity to take visitors to places that are not on the traditional
tourist circuit. At the same time we also consolidated our partnership with the town of
Savona, Costa’s homeport since 2003, sealed by a Memorandum of Understanding between
the Company and the Savona Port Authority. This is the background to the extension of
the quay for cruise ships, with facilities designed to accommodate approximately 850,000
passengers a year, who are invited to explore the town and its environs with specific shore
tour programs.
Costa is well aware of the positive impact of its cruises on local micro-economies, derived
2 Public-private partnership between the Costa Group, two
4
other cruise operators and local bodies. largely – but not only – from shore tours. It has been estimated that, at Group level, the direct
3 Study carried out by Deloitte for the Costa Group: spending of guests in each European port of call averages €74.60 per passenger , producing a
3
“Creating shared value – The Costa Group’s economic impact in Europe in 2018”.
economic impact in Europe in 2018”. multiplier effect over time. Indeed, a number of surveys have confirmed that 60% of our guests 5 A local holding company active in many sectors.
POSITIVE
IMPACT OF
PASSENGERS*
* 2018 figure
say they intend to return to the cruise destinations, reflecting Costa’s role as a major generator
of local tourism . All our itineraries are designed to facilitate shared, carefully thought out
4
development. The annual deployment of our ships is the synthesis of a process involving all
the Company’s departments using a balanced approach and a long-term, strategic perspective.
The Itinerary Committee, an ad hoc group consisting of members from the main corporate
functions, meets once a week to discuss any critical situations and, if required, implement
alternative plans. The criteria used to plan Costa’s itineraries are multifarious and include, first
and foremost, geopolitical and security considerations in each destination, ready accessibility
of ports, and available infrastructure, whose standards must be in line with those set out in
the Company’s policies. Basically, there are many variables to be taken into account before a
port can be considered a viable tourist destination, including arrangements guaranteeing the
efficient flow of embarking/disembarking passengers so as to avoid congestion in the local
area. Also, our shore tours must always be carefully balanced with the time spent on board,
ensuring that guests have enough time to enjoy both to the full. The same criterion is used
to plan port stopovers and routes, devised so as to reduce to a minimum the impacts caused
by emissions.
The Company is always on the lookout for new destinations worldwide, in order not only
to diversify its itineraries but also to contribute to the growth of regional tourism and
create economic well-being, in collaboration with local organizations. A revealing example
is the Memorandum of Understanding between Costa and the Qatar National Tourism
Council (QNTC), in support of the Doha tourism growth plan; the intention is to make Doha
a key turnaround port for Costa in the region. Costa Cruises was the first operator in the
world to market regular cruises in the Gulf back in 2006 and is more convinced than ever
of the region’s great growth potential. An integral part of the partnership is the creation of
dedicated cruise and hospitality facilities, together with an alignment of communication and
co-marketing to promote Doha and the Gulf region. Similarly, work is continuing in Dubai to
turn that port into a state-of-the-art regional maritime tourism hub, with the establishment
of the new Dubai Cruise Terminal, thanks to a collaboration between Meraas and Carnival
5
Study carried out by Deloitte for the Costa Group: Corporation. This project is the result of a partnership agreement with the local authorities in
“Creating shared value – The Costa Group’s support of tourism for the regional economy, creating long-term employment opportunities
in infrastructure management and cruise passenger hospitality.
E 74.60 60%
SPENDING PER PROPORTION OF
PASSENGER GUESTS INTENDING
IN EACH EUROPEAN TO RETURN TO
PORT DESTINATIONS