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Health, Wellness and Tourism: healthy tourists, healthy business ...

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Cruise <strong>Tourism</strong> - Changing Products – Improving <strong>Wellness</strong>?<br />

Ian Henderson<br />

TTC International<br />

Belfast, UK<br />

henderson@ttcinternational.com<br />

Abstract<br />

“This presentation examines the rapidly changing cruise tourism industry across the world but<br />

notably in Europe where growth has exceeded all expectations. (NB It will not cover river<br />

cruising). Not only is the market receiving br<strong>and</strong> new cruise ships but it is seeing a much<br />

greater spread of products on board. One theme being promoted is that of life, health <strong>and</strong><br />

wellness – which may seem to conflict with the image of constant eating <strong>and</strong> drinking on<br />

board such ships!<br />

The image presented <strong>and</strong> the products offered may not appear to be consistent in ensuring a<br />

total ‘wellness’ regime.<br />

Additionally the rapid growth in cruise tourism <strong>and</strong> the need to fill ever larger ships may drive<br />

new customers on board whose desired ‘experience’ may not always be compatible with that<br />

of their fellow cruisers. Mixing market segments creates tensions between groups of<br />

passengers where those who are lured by price may have a totally different lifestyle <strong>and</strong> set of<br />

ambitions <strong>and</strong> values to those who are focusing on a more ethereal experience.<br />

The presentation will consider the proposition that ‘wellness’ takes on many meanings to<br />

cruise passengers <strong>and</strong> that visiting the spa <strong>and</strong> gymnasium may not be an essential part of the<br />

experience”.<br />

Thankfully my own cruise experience 5 cruises on 3 different cruise lines has not faced that<br />

problem because we fly to USA <strong>and</strong> avoid Southampton (where I did the highly successful<br />

cruise tourism strategy in 2004/5).<br />

We prefer Celebrity which is said to be four star <strong>and</strong> promotes wellness <strong>and</strong> ‘life enrichment’<br />

<strong>and</strong> does to some extent. Good gyms <strong>and</strong> exorbitantly prices spas – plus new products that<br />

suggest healthier eating <strong>and</strong> living on board.<br />

Cruise <strong>Tourism</strong> Work undertaken:<br />

Port of Southampton Cruise <strong>Tourism</strong> Strategy<br />

Scottish Cruise <strong>Tourism</strong> Review<br />

Economic Impact of Cruise <strong>Tourism</strong> Dover<br />

Antigua <strong>Tourism</strong> Masterplan<br />

St Maarten <strong>Tourism</strong> Masterplan<br />

Limassol Cruise Terminal Feasibility<br />

Mombassa Cruise tourism Feasibility<br />

Dublin Cruise <strong>Tourism</strong> Feasibility

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