Europe’s war on cruise passengers

https://www.yahoo.com/news/plague-locusts-europe-war-cruise-123628005.html

"Like dominoes, Europe’s top tourist spots are lining up to bring the cruise industry to heel as tensions ratchet up on the hot topics of overtourism and sustainability.

Amsterdam is the latest destination to stick up the “not welcome” signs after posturing local politicians declared that ocean-going cruise ships would be banned from the city centre to help stem the growing flood of visitors swamping the city each year and rein in rising pollution levels.

Last month’s headline-grabbing claims were subsequently put into context by the city’s port authority, Cruise Port Amsterdam, which stressed that it was still business as usual with ships continuing to visit as planned, and port calls scheduled until 2026."

 

I thought the cities want tourism? But for some cities it appears overwhelming.

 

Merchants and city councils do. The citizens --- meh.

 

Depending on the city, cruise ships can be more trouble than they're worth. They dock for a few hours, disgorge passengers that crowd the city and spend little money, then they leave.

A regular tourist will usually spend at least a couple of days in a given city. And they're not all crowded around a central hub; they self-distribute throughout the city. At least, more than cruise ship tourists tend to do.

I can see why more cities would want to discourage cruise ship tourism.

 

Isn’t Europe all about being pro-migrants these days?

 

Migrants != tourists.

But, no, there are a lot of far-right jerks out there, even in Europe, who think that the way to solve problems is to stop migration entirely.

 

How does this impact, or how may it impact, degree programs that focus on tourism? Will colleges have to adapt to expand their market?

 

Right. In Germany there's the so-called "radical right" (subset of far-right) AfD that opposes all migration to Germany. And of course, in Hungary, there's (shudder) Viktor Orban. Marine le Pen, in France? "Le Pen has called for a moratorium on legal immigration. She would repeal laws allowing illegal immigrants to become legal residents, and argues for benefits provided to immigrants to be reduced to remove incentives for new immigrants." (Wiki)

Right, Rachel, as you say, "a lot of far-right jerks out there." I haven't even touched Italy or Spain, but I'm sure...

 

We have similar people in Canada - but I don't think many are electable and I don't foresee them forming a government -- at least not one I'm likely to live to see, even if I get to, maybe 110. Federally, no. Provincially -- I think some are already in office. High office.

 

It depends on the cruise. I've taken a couple of "small boat" river cruises. During each we had a lot of free time in each city. We spent plenty on food, drink, clothing, and other things. On our "big boat" cruise, however, we didn't do much free-styling at all. Our "excursions" were, with two exceptions, highly structured with no real chance to see and spend.

Not sure what Amsterdam is complaining about. I'm sure plenty of tourists spend big Euros, 15 minutes at a time.

 

No, I'm not sure now - at all. I read some on Italy's handling. They have thought-out policies and laws. No suggestion of extremes - no doubt there may be some who are dissatisfied with that -- but things seem to be improving for migrants, rather than going the other way. e.g. no refugee can be refused a second hearing.

Lots of people leaving Italy - and lots coming in. From a quick read, they seem to have a reasonably good handle on it. In a recent year, Italy admitted people from 196 other countries. That says something - there must be a reason...

 

It's complicated. Very, very complicated.

The "average" Italian likely holds two views simultaneously: Italians should be permitted to go to other countries for work, but nobody should be coming to Italy for work except Italians returning from abroad.

Random Sudanese, Albanian, Moroccan, etc. people should stay in their own countries and leave Italy alone! No moving to Italy!

But once the immigrants arrive in Italy, they are no longer strangers. They are friends. Often very welcome in the community, etc. as long as they follow the laws (preferably, also follow social customs as well).

Thankfully, the Italian government has yet to be weakened enough by right-wing parties to allow for the exclusion of immigrants and migrants. Obviously, there are a lot of exceptions to the statements above. Footnotes, caveats, etc. There are Italian jokes along the lines of: get a couple Italians in a room together and they'll form a dozen new political parties.

 

Yeah. I've heard the Sicilian version too. "Get a couple of Sicilians in a room and they'll form a Secret Society." There are more people from Racalmuto, Sicily, in this Ontario town than presently live in Racalmuto. Verified. No lie. They don't like this joke... can't say I blame them - but I told it anyway. Uh... forgive me, Don Angelo... please ... I didn't mean anything...

 

Not quite yet, Steve. I did a post on that exact thing a month or so back - can't find it, but here are the same stats.
Cuban-Americans in Miami / Dade County 1.2 million. Population of Havana 2.149 million.

 

"They talk about making Puerto Rico a state. Why don't they make Manhattan a state? It's an island, and it's got more Puerto Ricans on it than Puerto Rico." -- Floyd R. Turbo, American

 

% of tourists become migrants.

 

I doubt it. If the tourists live in a developed country and have enough money for a cruise ship, they're not really migrant material. Proof please - Stats?

People who WORK on cruise ships -- different story perhaps, a few years back. Most cruise lines employ foreign workers because they can pay them less. And yes, a few years ago, quite a few -- many of them Indians, entered the US and other countries illegally by this route. It was not a good idea, for several reasons and the practice is not so popular now.

2019 article here: http://www.kamaxi.com/WP/dangers-of-jumping-cruise-ship/

 

A substantial portion of immigrants do/have entered the US and other countries legally on a tourist visa. They get off the airplane and disappear into the population. Usually, though, the legal-turned-illegal immigrants are there on an overstayed student visa.

That's not really happening with cruise ships.