Madrid, December 1, 2017, Cruises News Media Group (CNMG). The seventh edition of the International Cruise Summit, held on November 29 and 30 in Madrid, surpassed the success of previous events and confirmed the growing importance of this congress within the industry. More than 400 attendees were able to learn about and explore this constantly expanding industry.
The opening of this new edition was led by José Llorca Ortega, President of State Ports , who highlighted the importance of the cruise sector for thousands of people who work in the ports, Manuel Butler, General Director of Turespaña, Marta Blanco, General Director of Tourism of the Community of Madrid, Sabine Schwanz, Director of Travel Trade & Connectivity at Madrid Destino and Virginia López Valiente, CEO of Cruises News Media Group.
The opening address was given by the current President of MedCruise and Commercial Director of the Ports of Tenerife, Airam Díaz Pastor. Díaz emphasized the importance of maintaining an ongoing dialogue with cruise lines to adapt ports to their needs, as well as the need to develop marketing strategies to attract Asian tourists to cruise in Europe.
The event's international prestige attracted the participation of cruise lines in their initial stages, such as Virgin Voyages, which shared details about their innovative product development. Additionally, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, soon to begin construction of its first luxury megayacht at shipyards in Vigo, outlined the type of ports of call they are seeking, offering attendees the opportunity to contact the company. Many other cruise lines were represented, including MSC Cruises, which, while launching its new ship in Trieste, announced another shipyard order, adding to its already extensive list of over 90 ships under construction through 2026.
Virginia López, CEO of Cruises News Media Group, interviewed Edie Rodríguez, Americas Brand Chairman and Corporate Special Advisor for the luxury cruise line Ponant, . Rodríguez declared his passion for Europe in general and Spain in particular. He defined luxury as an experience where every little detail has been carefully considered, a concept that has changed significantly over the last 20 years. True luxury, he said, is found on smaller ships visiting boutique ports and exploring destinations like the polar regions.
The growing discontent in some cities regarding the perceived overtourism resulting from cruise ships was a recurring theme in many of the debates during the congress. Belén Wangüemert, Associate Vice President & Managing Director Eurozone of Royal Caribbean Cruises, pointed out that less than 1% of tourists visiting Barcelona arrive on cruise ships, but that they are highly visible and easily identifiable. Geopolitical conflicts in North Africa and Turkey have increased pressure on other Mediterranean ports, but adequate infrastructure planned with sustainability criteria and a greater variety of itineraries could mitigate this increased pressure.
The cruise industry is far ahead of other sectors in environmental responsibility. Many of the ships to be built in the coming years will use liquefied natural gas (LNG), a clean fuel, and most of the large vessels currently in operation have already installed or plan to install gas scrubbers. However, the perception that cruise ships are major polluters persists, when, according to data provided by Santiago García-Milá, Deputy Director of Strategy and Commercial Affairs at the Port of Barcelona, only 0.23% of the particulate matter in the city's air comes from cruise ships. There was a general consensus that communication with both local communities and the press needs to be improved, highlighting the benefits of cruises in terms of economic activity, employment, production, and tourism development.
Costa Cruises, the Port of Tarragona and the Tarragona Provincial Council Tourism Board presented their success story, where, after proper planning, and with the teamwork of both institutions and the local community, they have managed to go from 3 calls in 2013, to 39 calls and 51,390 passengers in 2017, with a forecast for next year of 80,000 passengers.
This seventh edition has further strengthened Spain's image as the second leading European cruise destination and Madrid's position as a host city for major international congresses. Furthermore, Spain is firmly established as a leader in the sector thanks to its infrastructure and diverse destinations offering cultural and leisure experiences to suit all tastes. The economic impact of this tourism industry in Spain exceeds €1.3 billion and supports 28,000 jobs.
This latest edition of the International Cruise Summit also stood out for the multitude of opportunities attendees had to interact with speakers both in round tables and presentations, as well as in networking moments, in an environment that improves year after year.
All information about ICS 2017 can at: www.internationalcruisesummit.com
