Analyzing external environmental costs of cruise traffic in the port of Split

Abstract

This paper analyzes the external environmental costs and revenues of cruise traffic in the port of Split in 2015. In order to explore the perspectives of increasing the current mode of cruise traffic in the future, results were compared with those previously known for the port of Venice. The use of the same research methodology was an important condition for this comparison. The cruise tourism business has a negative balance sheet when comparing the costs and revenues in both cities: the external costs are higher than the revenues. Growing cruise traffic leads to further growth of the external costs, deepening the negative cost-benefit ratio. Valorization of damage is a sensitive topic which conflicts with the interests of various parties but is also an important factor in the apparent unsustainability of the current mode of cruise tourism. The authors want to highlight the similar problems of the two cities and encourage the authorities to implement the necessary controls to limit such damage.