In front of an audience including MedCruise, and a total of more than 400 stakeholders, the European Commission celebrated today in Brussels the European Tourism Day.
MedCruise participated at the full-day conference discussing ways to enhancing synergies of its membership with tourism and cultural and creative industries, as well as in identifying innovative solutions as the driver for jobs and growth.
Opening the conference, Karmenu Vella, Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affair and Fisheries, made a most welcomed announcement that increases the prospects of cruising in the Med and beyond.
In particular the Commission will continue supporting maritime and coastal tourism by making available €1.5 million to fund new ideas, foster dialogue, and promote Europe as a maritime destination, in line with its 2014 ‘European Strategy for more Growth and Jobs in Coastal and Maritime Tourism’.
A ‘Guide on Funding for Coastal and Maritime Tourism’, developed in early 2016, gives already helpful overview of available EU funding.
MedCruise also welcomed Commissioner Vella special reference to the Pan-European Dialogue and the cruise industry.
By initiating the Pan-European Dialogue for Cruise Tourism, the European Commission has already provided a platform for cruise ports, cruise lines, and stakeholders. MedCruise is actively contributed to the regional dialogue seeking concrete initiatives in the near future.
Thanos Pallis, MedCruise Secretary General, comments: “Today’ s announcement opens possibilities for linking cruise ports with cultural and creative industries, helping sustainable cruise tourism in the Med and beyond booming. We are committed to making the plan a reality. Effective and efficient cruise ports in the Med are vital for enabling cruise ships to be deployed in European waters, generating more than 40 billion euros and almost 350,000 European jobs every year. We must thus take advantage of all European initiatives for promoting maritime tourism and cruise in particular. Our presence in Brussels today demonstrates our devotion in working with the European Commission and stakeholders towards this end”.
