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Book launch

Encouraging positive change

‘Caribbean Cruise Tourism – Power Relations Among Stakeholders: The Future of Cruise Tourism in the Caribbean’

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CSA President Grantley Stephenson addresses a reception on 1st November 2012 to celebrate the launch of Dr. Fritz Pinnock’s book. Seated (left to right): Harry Maragh, Past President of the Shipping Association of Jamaica; Professor Anthony Clayton, University of the West Indies; Dr. Omar Davies; Dr. Fritz Pinnock; and Roger Hinds, then President of the SAJ.

This newly published book by Dr. Fritz Pinnock, ‘The Future of Cruise Tourism in the Caribbean’, represents an in-depth review of cruise shipping and exposes its strengths and weaknesses in a constructive way. The intention was to encourage positive change. 

Professor Anthony Clayton, the author’s doctoral supervisor, highlighted the two main issues discussed in the book. The first was the anomaly that the Caribbean accounts for over 50 per cent of the world’s market share of cruise ship passenger deployment but generates less than five per cent of the industry’s revenue; while imposing significant financial and environmental costs on a number of Caribbean nations. 

The second issue was that cruise lines were being absorbed in the process of industry consolidation in that over 80 per cent of the global industry market share was concentrated in a handful of cruise companies. This had created an acute imbalance of power, as these companies are effectively able to dictate terms to the small Caribbean nations on the cruise itinerary.

Sustainability

This situation has raised serious concerns about the sustainability of the industry and the likelihood that the extraordinarily inequitable distribution of power, costs and benefits will eventually alienate the host nations and stakeholders. 

According to Jamaica’s Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr Omar Davies, such findings are hard truths for the cruise industry and affected countries to accept; but he said the book should not be regarded as an empty criticism of the industry by its stakeholders. He urged all stakeholders to use this knowledge to activate positive and meaningful changes in the areas found most wanting in the sector.

The book will be used as a prescribed text at the Caribbean Maritime Institute. All proceeds of its sale will go to the establishment of the Caribbean Maritime Institute Research Fund. It is based on Dr. Pinnock’s thesis and was published by Combined Academic Publishers in Germany.