00:00Europe is the cruise industry.
00:02We are almost five years ahead of the checkpoint for 2030.
00:07This can ensure the future of this industry.
00:15Welcome to The Big Question.
00:17Now this is the show from Euronews where we sit down with some of the biggest leaders in business.
00:22And joining me on stage today is Gianni Oronato, CEO of MSC Cruises.
00:30Thank you very much for joining me today Gianni.
00:33It's really a pleasure.
00:34Now, MSC Cruises is the market leader in Europe for cruises and is known for premium cruises with lovely destinations,
00:42lovely boats.
00:43But what are you noticing different in the demands from your customers beyond just that premium travel experience?
00:48So I've been in this industry for 40 years now.
00:52And I have to say that there are a lot of similarities to the period I started.
00:58First of all, people, they want to go on a cruise because they're curious.
01:01They want to discover new destinations.
01:04They want to relax.
01:05They want to spend time with their beloved ones.
01:09At the same time, I've seen a big difference in the profile of the customers.
01:14In the past, cruises had this perception for being for old people.
01:18While now, there is a much younger demographics.
01:21The average age is 35, 54.
01:24And this is very good because this can ensure the future of this industry.
01:35In recent years, you know, we have seen protesters at destinations across Europe with concerns around environment and over-tourism.
01:42Now, what is the industry doing to kind of address those over-tourism concerns?
01:45Cruises are very predictable since it's a very complex operation because we embed all together a lot of different activities.
01:55So we need to plan very much in advance.
01:57So usually we need to work out two years ahead of the calendar.
02:02And this predictability is a very good opportunity to work together with the local stakeholders, with destinations, in order to
02:11prepare for cruising,
02:13which is something that doesn't happen for many other tourism activities.
02:19At the same time, seasonality.
02:21I remember when I started that we were saying it's not possible to have cruises in winter in the Mediterranean.
02:29And I heard before that 86% of the destinations have an issue that they don't have enough in wintertime.
02:38And cruises can help a lot because ships can move.
02:41So we can decide where to go.
02:43And obviously we need to decide with all the stakeholders involved.
02:47I think lots of people have that perception of, you know, cruises stopping at a destination,
02:51the travellers getting off, filling up the towns, but not spending any money.
02:55And I think that's what lots of people then get a bit angry about.
02:57So, you know, how can the industry tackle that kind of preconception so that the locals are happy to see
03:02the tourists in their town?
03:03That's really a wrong perception because cruises is contributing to European economy for 65 billions, OK, a year.
03:13And with the 445,000 permanent jobs, this expresses how the contribution to the local economies is quite a different
03:22level
03:22than the ones just picking up about the people staying there a few hours.
03:26Then let me add one thing, 64% of the people coming on a cruise are spending one night in
03:34a hotel before or after the cruise.
03:36Interesting, OK.
03:37And 6 out of 10 are expressing the intention to return to one of the destinations that they visited during
03:45the cruise.
03:45So let's say that we need to work closely also with hotel association and with local transport association
03:52because the cruises can really be an opportunity for everyone.
03:56What about the environmental side?
03:57You know, there's an EU-wide goal for climate-neutral maritime industry by 2050.
04:01Are we on track to deliver that?
04:03And what is the industry doing?
04:04For 2050, we have a target and we have a precise calendar, OK, with checkpoints.
04:10For example, at MSC, we are almost five years ahead of the checkpoint for 2030 because we have been able
04:20to reduce
04:21almost 42% versus our baseline of 2008.
04:26The industry overall has also recorded, just to give an overall number, 19.8% of emission reductions versus 2018.
04:36So there is a progressive reduction, but there is a lot to do.
04:42And we are doing it especially with the use of innovative technology, which is bringing us a different type of
04:49engines,
04:50dual fuel engines, which allow to use biofuel and natural LNG, natural biogas.
04:55This allows practically to proceed towards zero emissions.
05:00So the target is there.
05:02There is only one thing we are missing, the fuel availability, OK, so that needs to be produced at large
05:09scale.
05:10You know, we've discussed various issues about over-tourism, environmental concerns, and, you know,
05:15the industry is working hard to try and tackle them.
05:17And I assume this is all with a vision, you know, to continue to build and grow as an industry.
05:20So where are the opportunities for growth for the cruise industry going forward?
05:24OK, first of all, let's be very clear.
05:27The cruise industry is very small.
05:29In 2025, there were only 35 million of people taking a cruise.
05:35And I think that the latest data from WTTC was showing that a little bit above two billions of organized
05:43travel packages
05:44were sold in the world.
05:46So when you are small, you can grow.
05:48And then since the yards for the expertise to build cruises are only four,
05:54the four main yards building cruise ships are based in Europe.
05:58So the technology of the engines, the technology of all the different tools and devices that we use on border
06:05ships is European.
06:07So definitely Europe is the cruise industry.
06:11But the output of new ships every year is very small.
06:15So there is a growth approximately between 5% and 6% a year, which is, in a way, a
06:22controlled growth.
06:23So if you want to invest, please invest in cruises, because that's where cruises is really one of the industries
06:29where I believe,
06:30also for the strong value for money, the demand will be more than the offer.
06:37Brilliant.
06:37But very finally, you know, we talked about that EU goal for climate neutrality by 2050.
06:42But what is your vision for the industry by 2050?
06:45Okay, first of all, I see the tourism in general, I believe that will be much less measured on the
06:53quantity and the volumes,
06:54but much more on the quality of the emotions that we are able to give to the travelers.
07:00And we are talking now in a moment where there are wars around the world and so on.
07:04In reality, when you travel, when you meet different people, like on a cruise,
07:10sometimes we have more than 100 different nationalities.
07:14And this is the starting point to put people together, to live in harmony, to live in peace,
07:23and to think about a better world for our kids and for everybody.
07:28So I think a cruise is a good way to travel, and travel is important to the human beings for
07:33many other aspects.
07:35And sometimes we don't really identify it just with travel.
07:39Brilliant.
07:39I think that is an absolutely wonderful note to end on.
07:41So thank you so much for joining me on the show today.
07:44Gianni Orinato, everybody.
07:45Thank you.
07:47Amen.
07:48It's a pleasure.
07:48Thank you.
07:50Thank you.
07:51Thank you.
