The commercial director of the Port Authority, Juan Francisco Martín, is leading the delegation present at Seatrade Cruise Global, which is being held from last Monday until next Thursday, March 16, in Florida (Fort Lauderdale), where the most important agents, industrialists, businessmen, shipping companies and media of the sector are gathered.
Seatrade Cruise Global 2017, organized by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), has brought together more than eleven thousand registered attendees, around eight hundred exhibiting companies from ninety-three countries and more than three hundred international journalists this year.
A delegation of companies from the Ports of Las Palmas and the Port Authority will share the CRUISES ATLANTIC ISLANDS stand with colleagues from the ports of Madeira, Cape Verde and the Canary Islands to internationally promote the services that the Atlantic Islands offer for cruise traffic.
The series of scheduled meetings aims to foster new agreements with cruise industry leaders, as well as strengthen existing ones, highlighting the advantages and benefits that the Port of Las Palmas offers to this sector. Both the meetings and the planned press conferences will also provide details on the ongoing projects at the Port of Arrecife (a 430-meter extension of the Los Mármoles breakwater), the Port of Puerto del Rosario (the new Los Hornos beach), and the Port of Las Palmas (the start of construction on the new maneuvering area at the Santa Catalina Wharf).
The Port Authority arrives at the trade fair bolstered by the success of 1.2 million cruise passengers in 2016, solidifying its leading position. The Port of Las Palmas, handling over 600,000 passengers, tops the rankings in the Atlantic Islands, particularly in homeport operations. This specialization of the Port of Las Palmas enhances the island's connectivity with the rest of the world via Gran Canaria Airport, creating new business opportunities beyond the port facilities in sectors such as hospitality, transportation, and airlines.
Last year, 2016, the Port of Las Palmas closed the year with a total of 526 cruise ship calls and 1,102,207 passengers. It is projected that in 2017 the number of calls will increase to 560, with a volume of 1.3 million cruise passengers.
Alongside the regular conference and training program offered annually by Seatrade Cruise Global, which addresses the most relevant aspects of the industry, this year's edition features a dedicated Safety and Security Symposium. This symposium, with a comprehensive program bringing together high-level specialists, authorities, and regulatory bodies from around the world, will cover best practices, threats, and the latest developments, all aimed at ensuring the safety and security of cruise passengers, crew members, and vessels.
