OVERTOURISM actions to take
The impacts of overtourism include overcrowding, noise and traffic congestion that reduce the quality of life for local residents. There are global and port community approaches for responsible tourism based on ‘do no harm’ to local residents. In Victoria, cruise is high-volume, low-value mass tourism as cruise tourists account for less than 2% of tourist spending in our region.
See our FAQs for more information on the problem of cruise-caused overtourism.
OVERTOURISM Actions Needed
Harbour Operations
Maximum:
two ships in port per day
5,000 cruise ship passengers per day
• Staggered arrivals and departures
• All ships must arrive after 7:30 am and depart by 10 pm to respect Quiet Hours
• Maximum five days/week with cruise calls to provide community with cruise-free days
• Use lowest-sulphur fuels possible to reduce pollutants when entering port, maneuvering, and at berth
Land Transportation Operations
• No highway buses for cruise passenger transportation through James Bay
• ‘handyDART’ type buses for passengers who must use transit to downtown
• Speed enforcement for all cruise ship-related transport
• Rules of Conduct for pedicab/rickshaw operators and passengers
“2020 was a blissful year without cruise ships in James Bay: it was peaceful and quiet, the air was clear and clean, there was no congestion or speeding on our streets, and James Bay felt like a neighbourhood again rather than someone else’s destination.”