PortEconomics member Jean-Paul Rodrigue was interviewed by the Atlantic Cities website (www.atlanticcities.com) about cruise ports, an interview based on a recent research conducted with PortEconomics co-director Theo Notteboom on the “geography of cruises”.
When we think of cruises, most of us consider the luxury ships themselves as the attraction — not the ports they visit. Jean-Paul and Theo studied cruise itineraries from all over the world and found that companies pay a great deal of attention to port selection as a means of distinguishing themselves. Focusing on the Caribbean and Mediterranean markets, the scholars argue that itinerary is what’s really for sale from the cruise industry. As a result, relevant ports cities are competing to become part of a line’s unique regional and cultural package of places.
You might read the interview to Eric Jaffe @ Why cruises start and stop where they do
