A cruise-port destination is a bundle of tangible and intangible assets which transform a port into a cruise destination. Tangible assets include cruise terminal facilities, infrastructures and sovrastructures which make destinations accessible for both cruise ships (sea-side) and cruise tourists (land-side). Besides, the natural heritage (e.g., flora, fauna, beaches, seas, hills and mountains), as well as man-made constructions (e.g., buildings, roads, museums, theatres, and markets) and other typical cultural highlights constitute pivotal tourist resources for any cruise-port destinations. Intangible assets deal with the cultural heritage and the peculiarities of destinations. These include local customs and traditions, events, languages, food and beverage products, and all intangible resources which can enrich the overall service experience of the cruisers.
The combination of tangible and intangible assets can stimulate the desire of tourists to buy a cruise and visit these port destinations. Therefore, the attractiveness of cruise-port destinations is strongly interrelated with the strategic decisions and success of cruise companies, especially when planning itineraries.
Read the authors’ version of the portstudy of PortEconomics member Giovanni Satta along with Francesco Vitellaro (University of Genoa) on Cruise-port destinations that has been included in the Encyclopedia of Tourism Management and Marketing Editor in Chief: Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.
