CLIA, Dubrovnik Sign MoU

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the City of Dubrovnik signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together to preserve and protect the cultural heritage of Dubrovnik through responsible tourism management and to help establish Dubrovnik as a model of sustainable tourism in the Adriatic region and beyond.

The MOU signed by CLIA, President & CEO, Kelly Craighead, and City of Dubrovnik, Mayor Mato Frankovi, focuses on investment, collaboration and best practices for long-term destination management to the benefit residents and visitors alike.

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.
• Developing a Respect the City visitor education campaign.

Dubrovnik and CLIA are also exploring the possibility of a Dubrovnik World Heritage Visitor Center and Intermodal Transportation Center in Gruz Port.

CLIA, president & CEO, Kelly Craighead said that: “Today’s agreement validates the work we have already done with Mayor Frankovic and formalizes the cruise industry’s continued commitment to the City of Dubrovnik and its people.”

Craighead continued: “Signing of the MOU today is an important step in developing innovative practices in sustainable tourism management with Mayor 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.”

Commenting on the initiative Mayor Mato Frankovic stated: “We have developed an open and trustworthy relationship with CLIA and its members over the last two years. 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.”

Frankovic also stressed the importance of the City of Dubrovnik “Respect the City” project, whose measures contribute greatly to achieving the goal, along with the measures agreed upon with CLIA.

And he observed: “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.”

Sail on over to www.cruising.org for more.