By
Alice Chambers |
The newly formed Expedition Cruise Network (ECN) is launching a webinar series with an initial discussion on 18 May focused on selling expedition cruises.
The full 2023 webinar programme will explore sustainable travel, destination spotlights on the Polar regions, Galapagos and South America, and more.
ECN has been set up to connect expedition cruise operators with travel-trade professionals and to promote expedition cruising to a global audience. The network has been gathering data from its membership of 16 cruise operators and 330 trade professionals to understand the growth in the industry and the ways in which operators can travel more responsibly.
“We are pleased to report that all of our Expedition Cruise Network Members have reported growth or significant growth in the first quarter of 2023,” said Akyile Marozaite, CEO of ECN. “Antarctica is by far and away the best performing destination, with the northern polar region and the Galapagos Islands the next most popular destinations while Polynesia and Patagonia were specified as booking well too. Members are providing itineraries formerly accessible to just the hardiest explorers to destinations including Greenland, Svalbard and the Northwest Passage. West Africa and Western Australia are other new headline grabbing itineraries to dramatic landscapes, unique cultures and wildlife.”
ECN has also found that the majority of its members are looking to educate and market to consumers their itineraries, improve their sustainability credentials and work with new destinations.
“This is a dynamic and increasingly competitive market with new entrants entering the sector all the time,” said Marozaite. “All our members aim to leave a minimal footprint due to today’s highly energy-efficient, brand-new generation of low-energy vessels, while customers are increasingly becoming better informed with an increasingly younger demographic.”