#STCMed Last September 15, 2022 after a four year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, a very successful edition of Seatrade Cruise Mediterranean has been hel in Malaga City, Spain.
A large number of attendees estimated at 2000 from about 70 countries joined for this intense two day program full of activations, presentation from different destinations, and many interesting forums and discussion panels were held.
Many official representatives from Port destinations, as well as executives from cruise lanes shared their insights and experiences in the many panels with many touching of the subject of Sustainability, connections with the communities at port of calls, explorations on trends in the industry and updates on consumer demand and interests regarding destinations.
There was an interest from the exhibitors to share updates on facilities after reopening, as well as new partnerships to promote current and new ports of call, attractions, alliances and programs to engage product development,
As with the importance of personal connections on these trade shows, MedCruise was an opportunity to reconnect in person with old partners and prospect new connections for business opportunities.
Check this official Highlight video :
On opening day Malaga City’s major, and many personalities from Andalusia Tourism Authority, Spain Ports authority were on hand to welcome attendees to the event , to Malaga and to Spain. A minute of silence was held in honor of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
One of the many Port presentations:
Among the major announcements is important to note Global Ports Holding’s its new plans for the new Las Palmas terminal: The 14,400-square-meter terminal that will be able to provide smoother arrivals and transit operations at one of Spain’s busiest cruise ports. The facility will be built from sustainable, recycled materials to achieve a low carbon footprint.
The project set to be operational by 2024, will be able to handle the world’s largest cruise ships. It will have new retail and food and beverage experiences, capacity for 40 buses and an improved operational structure.
As the third busiest cruise destination in Spain, Las Palmas region, including Fuerteventura and Lanzarote Ports, is located in the east-mid Atlantic, is a popular destination for winter cruising thanks to the archipelago’s mild climate all year round. Its major cruise port, Las Palmas, is also a year-round destination thanks to its international air connections, sandy beaches and turquoise waters.
A great opportunity to hear and meet from CEOs from major cruise lines, port authorities, tourism promotion officials and suppliers to the industry. Malaga city and the port had a great opportunity to showcase first hand what the city has to offer and the terminal facilities for arriving travelers.
Representatives from the major Global cruise companies were on attendance:
It was interesting to talk to Venezuela’s promoters, explaining the current situation and possibilities to reactivate the tourism sector and cruise visits to their main destinations like Isla Margarita and , in view of the negative news coverage for the last few years.
Also the logistics of the event were flawless, from picking up participants from Malaga Port, registration was pretty fast and efficient, the app used was very reliable and easy to use so not to miss any presentations, panel discussions and even to connect easily with attendees.
This was a fantastic opportunity for the different stakeholders gain resources to move forward on this major sector of the tourism industry.
Make sure not to miss:
