Port dues as an element of cruise port competitiveness

Abstract

During development of maritime cruise industry, cruise companies carefully selected attractive destinations for their itineraries. There are few studies about cruise ports and destinations suggesting that this element of cruising has been scientifically neglected. Simultaneously, researches on cruising indicate that there are two main motives supporting tourists’ decision for choosing cruise tourism among many other tourist products. One of them is the pleasure of cruising and another one is visiting attractive tourist destinations. Both reasons are equally supported between decision makers, indicating equal research value. Analyses of cruise passenger consumption indicate a uniformity of cruise passengers’ consumption on board the cruise vessel and in destination. Previous studies show that ratio between cruise price and cruise passenger expenses for port dues is from 1:3 to 1:4, meaning that total passenger cost contains cost of cruise trip and port dues. Port dues vary at ports and destinations therefore the decision of a cruise company to visit a specific destination is also influenced by port dues. Accordingly, subject of our study are port dues as an element of cruise port or destination competitiveness. Purpose of this study is to promote research of cruise passenger port dues expenses which has not been studied in the past. Simultaneously, our goal is to evaluate port dues in correlation with attractiveness of cruise destination. Logical hypothesis set up on the basis of aforesaid, is that any increase of port dues directly affecting cruise passenger expenses has substantial influence on selection of cruise destination. Our study will show whether or not, how and to which extent the port dues influence port competitiveness.