82 Expedition cruise guests can be influenced to care more deeply about the environment through their experiences, says Jos Dewing INTERVIEW Ambassadors for the planet AE Expeditions’ Jos Dewing explains to Alex Smith how expedition cruising can promote sustainability through the experiences it provides for its guests Expedition cruises allow guests to visit some of the most remote places in the world in comfort, combining a sense of exploration with luxurious accommodation. Yet these locations are also some of the most fragile in the world, and as the sector grows there is a significant responsibility on expedition operators to ensure that they remain unspoiled for future generations. It’s a responsibility which expedition cruise line AE Expeditions takes seriously, says Jos Dewing, managing director for EMEA at the company. “We’ve ensured that our operations are carbon neutral for some time now, and we’re continuing to work through a long list of action points and targets in line with the sustainable development goals,” says Dewing. “We are also currently going for B Corporation certification, which is a social and environmental certification for profit-making companies. These efforts underline how we’re working as a business. We’re taking people to pristine, fragile environments, so it’s our duty to protect those environments.” Dewing suggests that in addition to operating sustainable cruises, expedition cruise operators can also influence the attitudes of their guests long after their voyage. “It’s about creating life-long ambassadors for the planet,” he says. “We’re taking people to these environments and inspiring them to care about the issues. They can then go back and influence their networks and take that message forward. Creating that kind of influence is a big part of what we do.” Many expedition cruises are now offering the chance for guests to get involved in the scientific research taking place onboard their ships, a practice known as citizen science. AE “ We’re able to mobilise an army of scientists that nongovernmental and research organisations couldn’t afford”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzQ1NTk=