They discussed how to meet the needs of cruise passengers and crew members visiting the city or province.
On the 10th, the Port Authority of Huelva organized a new working session within the framework of the Cruise Observatory, bringing together fifty professionals involved in cruise tourism at Las Cocheras to continue advancing towards the creation of a differentiated brand compared to other destinations, which will boost cruise ship calls at the port of Huelva, as well as involve all sectors related to cruise tourism.
The president of the Port Authority of Huelva, Manuela de Paz, highlighted during the opening of the conference the Port of Huelva's strong commitment to diversifying its traffic and joining the routes of major cruise lines in order to generate added value for the city and province and boost the economy through the impact of cruise tourism on the service sector. The president of the Port of Huelva noted that eight cruise ship calls are scheduled for this year, bringing almost 10,000 people, including passengers and crew, and 13 in 2016, representing a significant increase considering that the Port of Huelva previously received a small number of cruise ship calls annually.
For his part, cruise tourism expert Luis de Carvalho emphasized the need to offer friendly and courteous service to tourists visiting the city of Huelva and exploring the province, as this is crucial for them to decide to return and rate their experience positively in the satisfaction surveys conducted by cruise lines. He added that the work being done within the framework of these meetings, which originated at the Cruise Observatory, will not only promote cruise ship calls but also serve to unite efforts around Huelva as a tourist destination and enhance its appeal.
During the working session, the strategies used by other ports to attract visitors were analyzed, such as the 'Cruise friendly' quality label created by the Port of Motril to improve the quality of service, especially in the shops, restaurants and bars that adhere to it, which offer a price list including VAT, improved business English, and a tax-free service to the customer, among other things.
For her part, María Ángeles Marín, director of BC Agency, addressed the topic of excursions offered to cruise ship passengers. In this regard, she emphasized that the offerings should focus on diversity and differentiation, that is, providing an unforgettable experience, and cited as an example a visit to a cattle farm in the province.
Likewise, Carmen Fernández, head of the company Crew Management & Consulting, discussed the needs of crew members who go ashore to buy necessities in the city and how they can share their experience and advice with ship passengers who ask for it.
The participants continued working on the conclusions of the first meeting, which addressed the need to train good tour guides, the reception and farewell of ships in the port, the information that tourists receive in maps and brochures, the excursions to offer, the reception in the city, the services provided by the port, and the destination brand.
During the working session, the characteristics and requirements of each of the cruise lines visiting Huelva this year were discussed. Among them, a luxury cruise at the end of April stands out, as well as others that require excellent guides or unique experiences.
For its part, the Huelva City Council released a more concise and detailed map of the city, highlighting what to visit, where to eat, and what to buy. After reviewing it, the members of the cruise workshop agreed to incorporate suggestions to adapt it to cruise tourism.
Participants also discussed in depth various aspects, such as what to offer cruise ships as a welcome and farewell at the Port. Several options were considered, including greeting them with music, historical reenactments, or tastings of typical Huelva products, which will be studied by a working group. Regarding the reception in the city, the possibility of having volunteer information officers stationed at strategic points in the city center was addressed, as well as involving local businesses and providing maps and tourist information on board the ships. They also analyzed how to improve the specialization and availability of guides. In this context, it was decided to create a working committee that brings together various associations and businesses.
Finally, the topic of excursions was addressed, including the wide range of possibilities offered by Huelva and its province, and how to improve the information available on the Internet regarding this.
Similarly, discussions have focused on what Huelva and the province offer in terms of creating a destination brand. In this context, the potential of the Discovery of Huelva, its natural resources, its abundant sunshine, and its proximity to Seville and the Portuguese Algarve have been highlighted, among other possibilities.
The Port of Huelva highlighted the strategic positioning of the Port, the low prices for shipping companies, as well as the services and the availability of adequate infrastructure to receive ships at the South dock, which has a draft of 13 meters, and at the Levante dock, with less depth, but located in the center of the city.
The workshop participants ultimately decided to name it Huelva Cruise Network to highlight the great involvement of all attendees, including representatives from various business organizations, tourism companies, transport and commerce, Huelva City Council, Tourism Board, Chamber of Commerce and Huelva Federation of Businessmen, shipping agents, shipping companies, guides, agents of the State Security Forces, Maritime Captaincy, Port Authority of Huelva and other institutions, among others.
