Cruise and Tourism Ports: Managing Growth Responsibly
26 February 2026


Cruise and tourism ports play a vital role in driving economic growth, regional connectivity, and cultural exchange. As global cruise tourism has surpassed pre-pandemic levels and continues to scale, ports face renewed opportunities alongside growing pressures on infrastructure, communities, and sensitive coastal and marine environments. Increasingly, ports are assessed not only on efficiency and capacity, but on how responsibly they manage environmental and social impacts.

These challenges are particularly acute in Southeast Asia, where cruise and tourism ports range from major international gateways to small, destination-led terminals embedded in fragile ecosystems and local communities. Unmanaged growth can undermine the very destinations that ports depend on for long-term success.

This session explores how cruise and tourism ports can support growth while safeguarding environmental values, strengthening community trust, and maintaining social license to operate. It will examine how green and resilient port principles can be applied to cruise terminals and destinations to manage risk, enhance resilience, and deliver long-term value across Southeast Asia.

This webinar is the fourth in the Green Ports Webinar series organized by the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility (ACGF) and hosted by the Southeast Asia Development Solutions platform of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Program and Learning Materials
Session / Activity Title Speaker(s)
2:00-2:05 PM Welcome and Brief Overview  Jackie Spiteri, Managing Director, SESG
2:05-2:15 PM Southeast Asia River Cruises and Local Impact Phil Jordan, Director of Sustainability and Delivery, Scenic
2:25-2:35 PM Creating and Maintaining Sustainable Cruise Destinations Scott Lagueux, Director - Waterfront Planning, Moffatt & Nichol 
2:35-2:55 PM Moderated Discussion (two questions per panellist)  Facilitator: Jackie Spiteri
2:55-3:00 PM Closing Jackie Spiteri

Disclaimer

The views expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) or its Board of Governors or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. By making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area, or by using the term “country” in this document, ADB does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

Event Coordinator/s

  • ACGF Knowledge Team
  • Adrian Sammons

ADB Organizer/s

  • Southeast Asia Department

Partner Organization/s

Topics

  • Economics
  • Urban Development