AECO Celebrates Successful Expedition Cruise Week
Posted: 05 November. 2024
AECO wraps up a successful Annual Expedition Cruise Week, reinforcing our dedication to responsible Arctic tourism through a commitment to reduce GHG emissions.
The Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) is proud to announce the conclusion of its Annual Expedition Cruise Week, held in Oslo, Norway on October 22-24. At the Annual General Meeting, the membership agreed to a commitment to track and reduce their GHG emissions. The Climate Commitment marking a significant step towards a more sustainable future for Arctic tourism. This requires operating members to actively monitor their emissions and work towards measurable reductions.
The Annual Expedition Cruise Week serves as a crucial platform for aligning the goals of Arctic expedition cruise operators with the long-term health of the region with a focus on sustainability. Both Meet the Destinations and the Arctic Cruise Conference gathered leading stakeholders from across the expedition cruise industry to discuss the future of Arctic tourism.
Industry leaders, environmental experts, policymakers, and local Arctic communities came together to explore new approaches to responsible tourism, environmental stewardship, and industry growth.
Hervé Gastinel, CEO of Ponant, set the tone for the conference with a powerful message on the industry’s shared responsibility. He emphasized that the future of Arctic cruising relies on unified efforts, stating:
“The future of Arctic cruising hinges not on individual actions but on the collective responsibility of us all – operators, scientists, communities, and governments. By working together, we can ensure that these breathtaking landscapes, and the communities within them, not only endure but thrive in the years to come.”
AECO’s Executive Director, Frigg Jørgensen, opened the conference in the same spirit:
“This week demonstrates our collective commitment to fostering a sustainable tourism industry that respects both the environment and the people who live here.”
More highlights from AECO’s Arctic Expedition Cruise Week:
Launch of AECO’s new website
The site includes new features such as the page Knowledge Base for Guides that aims to enhance the knowledge of Arctic guides with resources and tools developed by research institutions and experts.
Meet the Destinations & Market Place
The event, doubled in size this year, allowed local businesses and operators to come together in a unique forum to share insights, forge partnerships, and explore ways to enhance the guest experience while supporting local economies. Through informative presentations and networking sessions, local representatives from Svalbard, Iceland, Greenland, and Canada showcased their unique communities, cultures, and sustainable tourism initiatives. These interactions offered a platform for community voices to be heard and emphasized the value of long-term relationships between cruise operators and Arctic destinations.
New members
AECO voted in three new Full members as well as three new Provisional members – operators that all support AECO’s mission.
Underwater noise
A partnership for the project that gathers data on underwater noise from ships was formalized at the Arctic Cruise Conference. This initiative is a collaboration with the University of San Diego and Oceans North.
