The cruise market continues to flourish in Guadeloupe, with the number of calls reaching pre-Covid levels, despite its negative impact on the environment.
“
For this 2023-2024 season, we have 243 stopovers planned, i.e. the pre-Covid level
,” says Laurence Corenthin, cruise manager at the Guadeloupe Islands Tourism Committee (CTIG).
A real improvement for the sector, two years after the pandemic which had removed the French islands from cruise ship circuits due to the health situation and repeated social crises, thus depriving the territory of at least 70 million euros in revenue. 'business.
“
The trend towards market recovery is confirmed for the years to come
,” adds Olivier Pierrot, responsible for commercial promotion and economic foresight at Port Caraibes, the large port of Guadeloupe, which welcomes liners and cruise lines.
“
Our docks can accommodate up to three ships simultaneously in Pointe-à-Pitre
,” he recalls.
“
It’s a necessary evil to welcome these boats
,” sighs Harry Durimel, mayor known for his environmental commitment.
“
These ships bring excitement to the city, people and economic activity in terms of tourism and in some way, this contributes to a renewed enthusiasm for the city,
” concedes the councilor of Pointe-à- Clown.
Underwater pollution and collision risks
However, he says he is aware of the ecological effects of these ships, which represent, according to studies, 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, by burning heavy fuel oil at the dock.
Added to this are underwater noise pollution, the risk of collision with cetaceans, as well as a large volume of people dumped, particularly in smaller communities.
In Deshaies and Terre-de-haut, municipalities in the Saintes archipelago, these are considerations taken into account.
“
Our job is to balance the territory, and certainly to welcome thousands of tourists but also to regulate
,” recalls Laurence Corenthin.
So we limit the number of passengers who can get off, in the name of social acceptance of tourism.
Jeanny Marc, the mayor of Deshaies (North Basse-Terre), remains vigilant: “
We accept boats with fewer than 500 passengers at anchor, but cruising is an asset: these tourists who come from all over the world, return home us
,” she says.
“Mooring boxes” to preserve the seabed
It also indicates that it wants to install “
anchor boxes
”, in discussion with state services, to prevent “
anchors from destroying the seabed
”.
For several years, so-called ecological anchorages installed for pleasure boats “
have proven themselves
”: “
Since we did that, the seagrasses, fish, turtles and seahorses have returned
,” according to the elected official.
A European directive could, however, hamper the cruise activity: the Emission Trading System, a carbon tax which compensates for the emissions of boats entering European ports, in force since 2024.
Ships will thus have to pay for 40% of their declared emissions, a rate which will increase to cover 100% of declared emissions from 2027. “
A real distortion of competition in the Caribbean zone where only the French ports of the departments are concerned
”, indicates Olivier Pierrot, who assures that negotiation work has already begun with the ministries.
However, this tax should not scare off cruise players, who say they are reducing and aiming for zero carbon emissions in the short term.
The electrification of port quays is planned to allow engines to be turned off at the dock, companies are equipping their ships with various devices.
MSC, for example, announced a goal of “
net zero emissions by 2050
”.
And then the ships give up fuel oil and switch to natural gas propulsion, to reduce their CO² emissions.
Developments applauded in the tourism industry, but refuted by environmental defenders: LNG remains a fossil energy which releases significant methane leaks.
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