MedCruise joined today key sea tourism stakeholders at the press conference introducing the 3rd Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum. Sea tourism in East Med is set for a significant upturn over the next two seasons as the region’s most profitable cruise destinations stand to benefit from an anticipated redeployment of part of the world’s cruise capacity back to the Eastern Mediterranean, following a period of capacity relocation compounded by the Mid East’s geopolitical tensions and the Eurozone’s financial crisis.
A key stakeholder in the region is MedCruise, the association representing port members from 20 different countries of the Mediterranean and Adjoining Seas. MedCruise Secretary General, Τhanos Pallis, said: “Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum is a key networking and relationship building event for cruise ports, cruise lines and destinations as it reinforces collaboration that ultimately increases the value of the region’s port services. We see this as a first class opportunity to face the challenges and produce concrete results on how best to develop our activities in order to bring more cruise passengers to the Med and the wider region.”
“As geopolitical tensions hopefully subside and their impact is waning, shore excursion yields of the culturally and historically rich and diverse Eastern Mediterranean are set to soar with the cruise giants eyeing a higher penetration of destinations across a region which boasts the highest port density in the world,” said Theodore Vokos, Executive Director, Posidonia Exhibitions S.A., the organiser of the event.
Kerry Anastassiadis, CEO Celestyal Cruises and member of the CLIA Europe Executive Committee, added: “The cruise industry in Greece has experienced continuous growth in recent years, ranking third in passenger numbers throughout Europe, and in 2015 the cruise industry is expected to give the Greek tourism industry a significant boost. ” The Executive Committee Meeting of the CLIA Europe, will also take place in the days of the 3rd Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum
Discussions on the positive impact on the region’s economies from more a more robust cruising sector will take centre stage at next week’s 3rd Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum, to be held from May 26th – 27th at the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre. More than 800 delegates will address challenges and opportunities affecting the future of sea tourism in Greece and the wider region.
Beyond MedCruise President Carla Salvadό, and secretary general Thanos Pallis, who will present cruise ports perspectives, several MedCruise members will hold fruitful discussions at the stand of MedCruise at the exhibition hall.
