The Port of Cadiz hopes that this initiative will help it achieve its goals of increasing port calls and establishing itself as a home port.
The Minister of Tourism and Commerce, Rafael Rodríguez Bermúdez, has presented in Malaga to the representatives of the Andalusian port authorities the Joint Action Plan of Andalusian Tourism and State Ports of Andalusia for the promotion of the cruise industry.
Based on cooperation, the plan proposes various strategies related to image, as well as the creation and development of products and communication and marketing support, with the aim of increasing both the number of stopovers and passengers arriving in the region and improving the Andalusian offer.
Among the many initiatives, the creation of a Cruise Tourism Commission in Andalusia and the "Andalusia Cruise Tourism" brand stand out.
Among the main strategies, the focus on the "return passenger" also stands out, taking advantage of the complementary nature of the Andalusian offer, trying to position some destinations as home ports and increasing the importance of ports of call.
To this end, cooperation and coordination with airports, as well as with other actors in the cruise tourism industry, will be intensified, among other measures.
Among the specific actions included in the Plan are joint participation in the World Travel Market, the international tourism fair in London, next November, and the proposal to attend Fitur, ITB and Seatrade Miami in 2015.
It is also planned to participate in annual forums and congresses and to make agreements with tourism intermediaries and other actors, in addition to reverse actions such as famtrips and presstrips.
The Action Plan also includes the implementation of a digital communication plan to position the new brand on social media and the internet, to make joint publications and to develop an advertising campaign.
The president of the Port Authority of the Bay of Cadiz, José Luis Blanco, took advantage of his participation in the presentation event to remind everyone that since the beginning of the economic recession, the cruise industry has continued to grow.
“Andalusia has played a significant role in this explosion of the cruise industry. In fact, Malaga and Cadiz, or Cadiz and Malaga, lead the peninsular ranking after Barcelona,” Blanco explained.
