Ad Hoc Working Group on the NW Marine Tourism Industry

The Working Group is an informal collaboration of academic and policy professionals who are interested in objective knowledge of marine tourism in the Pacific Northwest of North America.  We share the goals of equal participation, quality research and data, informed decision makers, and sustainable economic development.  We believe that sustainable marine tourism in the region depends on the affected communities and helping them create practical solutions with partners.

Members:

• Marc Miller, Professor, School of Marine Affairs, University of Washington, Seattle

• Burton Hamner, President, Cleaner Production International LLC, Seattle

• Matt Morrison, Director, Pacific Northwest Economic Region, Seattle

Invited:

• Alison Gill, Simon Frasier University, Vancouver

• Steve Colt, University of Alaska, Anchorage

To achieve these goals we are advancing a specific agenda:

• Conduct a multi-university study of the impacts of the cruise line industry in the region so everyone has a basis of objective data.  Read the PNWER Cruise Industry Study Concept Paper
• Promote the creation of a Roundtable organization of persons representing marine tourism stakeholder groups and opinions.  Example stakeholders include
  • Community leadership organizations
  • Economic development groups
  • Environmental interest organizations
  • Regulatory agencies
  • Alaska, BC and Washington travel industry associations
  • NW Cruiseship Association and other cruise industry groups
• Hold Roundtable events for dialogue and debate and produce joint recommendations for sustainable partnerships among stakeholders.
• Hold Roundtable teleconferences for those that cannot attend events in person
• Conduct a Sustainable Marine Tourism short course at the School of Marine Affairs at University of Washington. 
  • This four-day interactive course teaches the important concepts and practices for sustainable development, tourism, marine community management, mediation and negotiation, and multi-party development planning.  It is targeted to tourism industry leaders, planners and consultants; academics interested in exposure to marine tourism theory and practice; economic development agencies; regulatory agencies; and any one else interested.  Participants work through a simulation of a coastal community deciding whether to accept cruise ship docking for the first time.

Useful References:

• A Primer on the Canadian Pacific Cruise Ship Industry.  Statistics, trends and issues - a good balanced report
• The Alaska cruise industry ballot initiative to be voted on in August 2006
• Cruise Lines Industry Association Overview 2005 - industry economic output statistics.
• The Contribution of the International Cruise Industry to the Canadian Economy in 2003
• The Contribution of the North American Cruise Industry to the U.S. Economy in 2004

Reading List:  suggest a marine tourism book or reference

Interested to participate?  Send an email to Burton Hamner.