How the port shapes cruise visits in Lisbon and Livorno

The question

How can port authorities and cruise terminal operators support sustainable shore visits, linking cruise lines' offer with local businesses and reducing congestion?

The method

Comparative qualitative case study of two transit ports (Lisbon and Livorno): in-depth structured interviews with port and tourism managers, observation of infrastructure and secondary data, including an IRPET survey of 2,288 cruise passengers in Livorno (2016) and surveys of about 1,000 passengers a year in Lisbon.

What the study finds

≈ 90%of Livorno excursions going to Florence, Pisa, LuccaIn Livorno about 90% of cruise excursions go to Florence, Pisa and Lucca, with Cinque Terre at 4.37%; only 0.62% of disembarking tourists visit the town of Livorno itself.

26%of respondents with a guided tour pre-bookedIn Lisbon cruise visitors mainly explore the city: only 26% of respondents had bought a guided tour before landing and fewer than 30% chose excursions outside the city (Sintra 28%, Óbidos 21%, Cascais 18%, Fátima 10%).

2,000–4,000cruise visitors landing at once in confined areasThe sustainability issue is less the overall share of cruise visitors than the simultaneous landing of 2,000-4,000 people moving in confined areas for a few hours; their spending is found to be relatively low.

In the comparison, Lisbon works as a 'destination' port (cruise visitors mainly tour the city) while Livorno is a 'gateway' to inland Tuscan sites: the port's role shapes where visitors end up.
Lisbon secured longer ship stays from cruise lines; the authors regard extending the call as an effective way to curb congestion from very short visits.
In Livorno the study finds weak public policy and no integration of tourism into local strategic planning, with little consultation among the port authority, businesses, trade bodies and public institutions.
As a proposal rather than a tested result, the authors envisage a cruise terminal offering a high-quality taste of regional food, products and culture, benefiting residents and visitors alike and encouraging longer or repeat visits.

From the study's figures

Lisbon as a destination port: visits concentrate in the city, with fewer excursions to Sintra and Fátima.
Figure from Santos, M.; Radicchi, E.; Zagnoli, P. (2019), CC BY 4.0 licence.

Livorno as a gateway port: flows leave for Florence, Pisa, Lucca and other Tuscan destinations.
Figure from Santos, M.; Radicchi, E.; Zagnoli, P. (2019), CC BY 4.0 licence.

Why it matters for ports and cities

It shows that the port is not only infrastructure but an actor able to influence call duration, local offer and visitor distribution. Comparing a destination port with a gateway port clarifies why flow-management solutions must differ from one call to another.

Limitations

Only two cases and qualitative interviews; the passenger surveys used were not designed for this research, and segmentation and spending data are missing, as the authors acknowledge.

Full reference and source

Santos, M., Radicchi, E., Zagnoli, P. (2019). Port's Role as a Determinant of Cruise Destination Socio-Economic Sustainability. Sustainability (MDPI), 11, 4542.

Read the original study ↗

Summary written by the ODYBOAT Observatory in our own words. Tables and figures belong to the authors.