The last petition update, Cruise Lines – A bad business decision and Bad Business Part II - A WARNING FROM AFAR discuss the reasons to keep Princess Cruise Lines out of Yorktown. But many communities, like Yorktown, were not consulted on the decision to bring in the cruise industry and are now pushing back. As explained in Global Impacts of the Cruise Industry, local populations object to the “Loss of local historical and cultural heritage.” Other reasons include, “overcrowding,” “smoke,” “visual and sound pollution.”
Venice has seen exponential growth with the number of passengers increased by 440%. The cruise industry’s goal is to maximize their profit and it has used unsavory business practices to achieve its goal. An “it can’t happen here” attitude is a dangerous position to take on this important issue. In Bar Harbor, Maine, more than half of respondents said cruise-ship tourism had a negative effect on their quality of life, according to a 2021 study. Bar Harbor and many other cities are fighting back. But you don’t have to take our word for it, communities around the world are working to ban or limit cruise ships due to detrimental effects – we should heed their warning and tell our civic leaders to stop the cruise industry from coming to Yorktown.
- A Warning Letter from Charleston, SC
- A Warning Letter from Juneau, Alaska
- Bar Harbor Votes to Dramatically Limit Cruise Passenger Arrivals
- Federal judge to rule on Bar Harbor cruise ship cap
- WSJ: Cities to Cruise Ships: You’re Bringing Too Many Tourists Here
- WSJ: How Many are Too Many?
- Sitka, Alaska Proposes to Limit Cruise Visitors
- Another Port May Begin Limiting Cruise Ship Visits
- European Cities Banning Giant Ships
- Amsterdam Makes Huge Move and Bans Cruise Ships
- Key West Doesn't Want Your Big Cruise Ships
- Juneau and Cruise Lines Agree to Limit Cruise Ships
- Norway Set to Introduce More Restrictions on Cruise Ships
- Amsterdam Took a Major Step Toward Banning Cruises
Venice Barcelona, Sitka, Juneau (pictured above), Seattle, Charleston, Key West, Amsterdam, Marseille, Monterey Bay, Bar Harbor, Bergen, and other cities all have the same tragic story. The cruise industry exploited these communities to the breaking point and now they are going through a painful and costly process to fight back. Let’s not let this happen in Yorktown. The writing is on the wall if we don’t stop this now.
Preserve Yorktown is attempting to tell the rest of the story so our community can make an informed business decision. Please tell the Board of Supervisors at board meetings or via email (bos@yorkcounty.gov) that the cruise industry is a bad business decision for Yorktown. Talk to your friends and share our petition with them. Also, yard signs are now available to spread the word, email Preserve Yorktown or visit www.PreserveYorktown.org.
Original image credit: Anchorage Daily News
Preserve Yorktown!