Speaking at the Abta Travel Convention on Monday, Arnold Donald was asked about the future of cruising in destinations such as Venice, which has seen locals resisting what they believe to be overtourism.

Donald said Venice receives an estimated 24 million tourists each year, but that about 1.5 million are cruise passengers.

He said: “We’re not really the issue but it doesn’t matter. When people see those ships we become the symbol of overtourism whether we’re a big part of it or not.

“Then the locals feel put upon. They see the cathedral that they see as their local, sacred place,

and it’s filled with tourists.

“[Tourists] are basically desecrating what they see as a sacred place, so they get very frustrated by that.

“We do a pretty good job with governments around the world, but we need to do a better job with locals.”

He added that likewise, cruise guests want to experience destinations which are not overcrowded.

He continued: “It’s important that we as an industry lead by example through things like making sure tourists know what the proper behaviours are, and ensuring that we’re connecting with the locals in their every day life so they feel like we’re part of their community.

“It is an issue and it could be a growing issue.”