Lisbon Port (Portugal) has established the Committee for the Sustainability of Cruise Activity in Lisbon, a strategic body aimed at balancing the cruise industry’s economic impact with environmental sustainability. Announced during the port’s 137th anniversary, the committee will work with partners like APL, the Lisbon City Council, and CLIA to address sustainability concerns. According to the Economic Impact Assessment of the Cruise Industry in Lisbon 2023, presented at the same event, the sector generated €1.934 billion, €317 million in taxes, and over 20,000 jobs, contributing 0.3% to the national GDP. At the same time, the study Monitoring of Air Quality Around the Lisbon Cruise Terminal was also presented, which assessed ship emissions in cruise ship influence areas over a year. The results indicate that pollution levels in Lisbon remained within European and national legal limits despite some occasional exceedances of WHO guideline values for fine particles and nitrogen dioxide. We will address this and other initiatives in AIVP’s forthcoming 19^th World Conference Cities and Ports with our special parallel track on sustainable cruises in port pities.

Cameroon has adopted a variety of community initiatives in 2024. Among them was the first-ever Open Days organised by the Port Authority of Kribi on October 31st and November 1st, which gave students, members of the scientific community, and career guidance counsellors the opportunity to learn more about careers in the port industry. Meanwhile, the “Pink October” campaign sought to raise awareness about breast cancer, with a march and a prevention workshop. The port is also supporting local communities through sport, with a soccer tournament taking place from 7 to 20 November. Last but not least, the port authority is stepping up its commitment to the local population by joining forces with Grand Prix cyclist Chantal Biya.

The Board of Directors of the Balearic Islands Port Authority (Spain) has given the go-ahead for plans to reorganise the Port of Palma, in line with an inclusive consultation involving more than 65 representatives of local interest groups. The project aims to address the needs of local residents, by turning brownfield sites previously used by the ship repair industry into dedicated public spaces  focused on culture, sport, education and training. The redevelopment project prioritises sustainability, social inclusion, and port operations, while improving quality of life and reconnecting the port with the city.

Yokohama (Japan) has unveiled its “Tourism and MICE Strategy”, aimed at making the city a more attractive destination for tourists and driving growth in its events sector. The strategy is focused on showcasing the city’s urban heritage, with an emphasis on the waterfront, the history of the port, and the arts, and reflects Yokohama’s desire to position itself as a leading destination for international conferences and events, especially in the medical industry. The city will also help local economic development by offering support to businesses and start-ups, while looking to promote sustainable tourism, and is targeting 500 billion yen (3.33 billion euros) in tourist spending by 2030.

New York Economic Development Corporation (NYEDC) has unveiled the latest milestones in its plan to develop the 14.5 hectare Bush Terminal Campus in Brooklyn (USA). The northern campus has been renamed ‘MADE’ (Manufacturers, Artisans, Designers, and Entrepreneurs) to better showcase the activities set to be housed there. NYEDC is investing heavily in new, high-quality spaces for industry and businesses in general, in addition to resilient public spaces. The new business zone is expected to create some 150 permanent jobs and generate $2.6 billion in economic impact over 30 years. The MADE campus is a cornerstone of NYEDC’s 80 hectare Sunset Park waterfront redevelopment.