The new sustainable channel for river cruises

«River tourism has come to value rivers and reservoirs – they explain –. Populations condemned to emigrate following the watts that their river produced, now see in them a source of employment, sustenance and, above all, pride. River tourism has reconciled many towns with their reservoirs, since their construction had meant the demographic death of many municipalities. Furthermore, river cruises generate direct employment, but much more indirectly: we are talking about a ratio of 1 to 10; rural accommodation, tourist guides, restaurants, small agricultural producers, transport companies… all of them see in the public that arrives attracted by nautical tourism the opportunity to not have to leave their municipalities, being able to live with dignity from their jobs.

As for the most popular formulas, the CCF Network highlights short routes of up to an hour and a half, without accommodation, and that pass through rivers, reservoirs and canals located in areas of great natural and scenic value. . The most used boats are catamarans that have around 70 seats and small boats with 12 seats, which carry out nautical itineraries with stops at several pontoons. Galicia (Miño, Sil, Ulla, Mandeo and Eume); Extremadura (Tajo); Catalonia (Ebro); Castilla y León (Canal de Castilla y Duero) or Andalusia (Guadalquivir) are the river destinations offered by this Network, in which sustainability is the great emblem.

differential R&D

It is also for the company Croisieurope, a cruise company that designs, builds and markets its own ships, which gives it a great capacity to invest in differential R&D in the world of river cruises. From this firm, which has 55 ships and It is one of the largest in the world, They also confirm the increase in river tourism in Spain. «In the last five years, growth has been sustained and significant. Although we were starting from a lower base than other European countries, the popularity of river cruising has increased with an annual growth rate of approximately 20% over the last two years. By limiting ship capacity, environmental pressure on specific destinations is reduced and this allows for a very non-invasive experience. It must be taken into account that the capacity of our boats is from 20 to 180 passengers maximum. In addition, we have incorporated environmentally friendly fuel systems and engines with different ECO labels to minimize the environmental impact, while we investigate the use of alternative energies. Our fleet is also equipped to preserve the cleanliness of river water, ensuring that operations do not have a negative impact on local ecosystems. “There are also no single-use plastics used on board.”

They also corroborate this link between river tourism and sustainability from myRiverCruise, an agency specialized in this type of destinations and that collaborates closely with shipping companies that apply environmentally friendly technologies. «Many ships have adopted less polluting technologies, eliminating plastics on board and managing waste through recycling policies. In addition, we ourselves promote excursions in small groups at each stop, to minimize the impact on local communities. The shipping companies we work with have also implemented practices such as turning off engines in ports and using alternative electrical energy, in addition to using biodegradable fuels, such as GTL, which reduce emissions and promote carbon neutrality. At miCruceroFluvial, we also contribute to sustainable tourism by reducing the use of paper, since we manage all our operations and reservations digitally. This not only reduces the need for printing and brochures, but also avoids unnecessary travel, making our work model more environmentally friendly. “We are committed to offering responsible and sustainable travel options, and raising awareness among our customers about the importance of protecting the natural and cultural destinations they visit.”

From the CCF NETWORK explain that, in collaboration with the European Association for Sustainability- Berdeago, they have developed a tool to measure the degree of sustainability of each of the services included in coastal and river cruises, which allows quantifying the degree of compliance with the SDGs of each of the nautical-cultural itineraries created. «The vessels can use renewable energy or electric propulsion systems, and environmental protection is prioritized. In addition, there are measures to ensure the cleanliness of rivers and prevent pollution, such as mandatory disinfection of boats to prevent the spread of invasive species such as the apple snail. Thus, river cruises contribute to the reduction of the carbon footprint and the conservation of ecosystems. Without also forgetting that many of the existing river routes are done by kayak or in small boats that do not pose problems of overcrowding like large maritime cruises.

Another initiative, presented last August, is the Iberian Cross-Border River Cruise Network (CIFT RED) project, through which Spain and Portugal work to promote tourism between both countries through a network of river cruises. The project aims to create nautical-cultural itineraries in the five cross-border rivers: the Miño, the Limia, the Duero, the Tajo and the Guadiana. It is led by the Maritime-Marine Cluster of Andalusia (CMMA) and eight partners participate: four Spaniards – who come from the autonomous communities of Galicia, Andalusia, Extremadura and Castilla y León – and four Portuguese. CMMA explains that this initiative aims to “create synergies between river cruise and cultural tourism, transferring knowledge and experiences between cross-border regions.” The cruises will sail under sail, have electric or hybrid engines and will be able to carry groups of between 15 and 30 people. These are small boats – whose length measures between 15 and 25 meters – that will make stops in various riverside towns.

Regarding the main challenges facing this sector, one of the most relevant is the availability and maintenance of adequate infrastructure, such as docks and docking areas, on the main river routes. Also those related to the regulation of river traffic on certain routes, especially in high seasons, where the capacity of current piers is quite tight. «Another important aspect is the awareness of the Spanish public towards this type of unique and sustainable tourism. However, we are convinced that the sector will continue to expand, adapting to these challenges and responding to the growing demand for responsible and sustainable travel experiences,” they explain from Croisieurope.