Identify the CLIA’s Effort Towards to Mitigate the Environment Impact by Cruise Tourism Industry

Cruise tourism is the fastest growing industry in the leisure travel market, and annually nearly 30 million passengers engage in cruising. Thereby it encounters for massive negative impact on the marine environment. The cruise industry is under the leadership of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) which has over 95 % global capacity under the membership. CLIA establishes policies and procedures to undertake by its members to ensure the sustainability of the industry. The primary objective of the study is to explore the negative environmental impact caused by cruise shipping industry and the secondary objective is to recognize the contribution of CLIA towards mitigating the negative environmental impact. The study is conducted using an exploratory approach and the data is drawn from the official website of CLIA and other websites and publications regarding cruise tourism, waste management and environmental impacts. Cruise industry policies and environmental stewardship reports of CLIA are used to manifest the negative environmental impact caused by the cruise ships and implement policies and procedures to mitigate them using high end technology, driving towards sustainability. The study provides an understanding on how the implied mechanisms of CLIA is driving the cruise industry towards sustainability.