Advancing sustainable cruise tourism
The European Union regulatory challenge
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.2636Palabras clave:
Sustainable tourism, cruise tourism, European Union, GEI emissions, seafarers' working conditionsResumen
El presente trabajo examina la contribución de la Unión Europea (UE) a la transición hacia un turismo de cruceros más sostenible. En un contexto de continua expansión del sector y de creciente preocupación por sus impactos ambientales y sociales, analiza cómo la UE está contribuyendo a mejorar la sostenibilidad de las actividades relacionadas con los cruceros. En primer lugar, el trabajo describe el marco general de la UE para abordar la sostenibilidad del sector, identificando las competencias de la Unión y los principales marcos de sostenibilidad de sustentan su enfoque regulador. A continuación, aborda la actuación de la UE en la práctica, centrándose en dos áreas clave de intervención: la descarbonización del transporte marítimo y la protección de las condiciones laborales a bordo de los buques. Partiendo de este análisis, el trabajo evalúa críticamente en qué medida el enfoque actual de la UE puede garantizar un turismo de cruceros verdaderamente sostenible. Sostiene que, a pesar de los importantes avances normativos, el marco existente sigue estando fragmentado y no se adapta suficientemente a los retos específicos que plantea el sector de los cruceros. El trabajo concluye abogando por el desarrollo de una política específica de la UE en este ámbito, capaz de conciliar los objetivos medioambientales, sociales y económicos desde de una visión integral del turismo de cruceros sostenible.
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Agencia Estatal de Investigación
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