The healthcare initiative between Paul Gauguin Cruises and the government of French Polynesia was honoured as the 2024 Sustainability Initiative of the Year at the Seatrade Cruise Awards in Málaga, Spain, on September 10, 2024.
The "Taote Gauguin" medical partnership—taote meaning doctor in Tahitian—was launched in October 2023 and provides essential healthcare assistance to some of the most remote islands in the region. As the m/s Paul Gauguin regularly visits these islands, the ship’s medical staff supports healthcare efforts by assisting local doctors addressing emergency or acute cases. The program also provides access to the ship’s medical equipment when needed, significantly reducing the need for medical evacuations from these isolated areas. To date, more than 90 patients have been aided through the program.
“We are thrilled that this important healthcare initiative has received this recognition and are honored to continue to support the work of local doctors as they provide medical care to the people of the islands we call home,” said Hervé Gastinel, CEO & Chief Sustainability Officer of PONANT (parent company of PGC). “These wonderful communities have welcomed Paul Gauguin Cruises into their lives for 26 years, sharing their rich cultures, traditions, and natural wonders with our guests and it is our privilege to give back and continue supporting those who live here.”
The Seatrade Cruise Awards program recognizes the best in the cruise industry, setting new standards for innovation, creativity and technology, According to Seatrade Cruise Portfolio Director Mary Bond: “The work Paul Gauguin Cruises is doing in support of local communities in French Polynesia is a great example of cruising’s social sustainability focus in giving back to the communities its ships visit and deserves recognition.”
Additionally, sister-brand PONANT won most Innovative Shore Excursion of the Year for a new shore excursion in East Greenland for guests aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s only luxury icebreaker. The adventure goes deep into the local Inuit communities of the Tasiilaq, Ittoqqortoormiit and Sermersooq, respectively the largest and northernmost in East Greenland. Trapped in pack ice for most of the year, these territories remain largely inaccessible and virtually unvisited during winter and spring.
In keeping with PONANT’s sustainability goals, the excursion was designed in close cooperation with the local communities, emphasizing a spirit of community engagement. This approach not only respects the fragile Arctic ecosystem, but also supports the cultural heritage and economic well-being of the Inuit. PONANT has employed Inuits from Tasiilaq as part of the Expedition team for the season, bringing the destination on board and enabling them to share their daily lives and unique perspectives with its guests.
The winners of the Seatrade Cruise Awards were determined by an independent panel of leading voices from consultants, professors, editors and operations executives across the international cruise community.
