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Paper travel documentation is back at PonantPaper travel documentation is back at Ponant

In response to requests from its travel agency partners, Ponant has been sending a new personalized folder to its passengers for departures in April and later.

Mary Bond, Editor in Chief

April 14, 2015

1 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

The folder contains booking information including shore excursions, flight information, pre- and post-cruise programmes, luggage labels, supplements and so forth.

‘After introducing the electronic travel folder two and a half years ago, we decided to maintain the option of a paper copy as we wanted the Ponant experience to start with the booking and the receipt of the travel documents,’ comments Hervé Bellaïche, evp sales and marketing at the French luxury operator.

Passengers have the option of a digital version.

The choice is in keeping with Ponant’s commitment to responsible tourism including supporting the Inuit communities in the Upernavik district of North West Greenland.

As strict quotas have been imposed on hunting, the Inuits have to diversify their sources of income. Ponant will donate €10 to the Upernavik FabLab for each passenger who chooses to receive only electronic travel documentation.

Initiated by the Edana Research laboratory from the HE-Arc in Neuchâtel (Switzerland) , the Ethnographic Museum (also in Neuchâtel) and Nicolas Dubreuil, an expedition leader with Ponant, the Upernavik FabLab is the first 3D printing laboratory in Greenland. 

The aim is to produce 3D copies of traditional Inuit amulets, held in the collections of European museums. Reproduced by Inuit sculptors from the Upernavik district, they will be offered for sale in museums and aboard Ponant ships, giving a sustainable source of income to these craftsmen.

‘At Ponant, we strive constantly to be environmental friendly, from the design of our ships to the organisation of our shore visits. Our support for the local communities of the Upernavik district is therefore perfectly in line with this company priority,’ adds Bellaïche.

The paper travel folder option is offered in France, UK, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland.

About the Author

Mary Bond

Editor in Chief

Mary Bond is Group Director, Seatrade Cruise a division within Informa Markets and responsible for the Seatrade portfolio of global cruise events, print and online cruise publishing.

Mary is also the publisher and editor-in-chief of Seatrade Cruise News and Seatrade Cruise Review magazine.

Mary has worked in the shipping industry for 39 years, first for Lloyd’s Register of Shipping before joining Seatrade’s editorial team in 1985.

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