Santander hosted the cruise industry yesterday with the SANTANDER CRUISE FORUM 2018, an event organized by Cruises News Media Group, a media company specializing in the promotion and dissemination of the cruise industry and organizer of the International Cruise Summit.
This event was organized jointly by the Port Authority of Santander, the Santander City Council, and CANTUR, the Cantabria Tourism Board. The forum took place in the auditorium of the Botín Centre.
The Forum was inaugurated by the President of the Port Authority of Santander, Jaime González, who insisted on showing his willingness to work together with the public and private bodies of the community for the development of cruise tourism and to develop an appropriate strategy for the coming years, and Virginia López, General Director of Cruises News Media Group.
Alfredo Serrano, director of CLIA Spain (Cruise Lines International Association), offered an overview of the state of the global cruise industry, with a forecast of 27.2 million global passengers for 2018, 5.5% more than the previous year.
Fernando Muñoz, Commercial Director of the Cartagena Port Authority, analyzed, as an example of a successful destination in the industry, the steps taken by the Port of Cartagena and the city, multiplying the number of cruise passengers sixfold in the last nine years.
After a coffee break to encourage networking between the local industry and the guests, Ramiro Cobo, Director of the Cruise Division of Perez y Cia Group, spoke about the role of land operators in the cruise industry, shore programs and excursions, embarkation and disembarkation operations, and what any cruise line expects to find in a port and cruise destination.
Finally, a round table discussion moderated by Virginia López, General Manager of Cruises News Media Group, took place with Emiliano González, President of MSC Cruises Spain; Agustín Quesada, Director of Mundomar Cruises – Cunard, P&O, and Princess Cruises; Raffaele D'Ambrosio, General Manager of Costa Cruises Spain and Portugal; Yolanda Pelayo, Senior Manager of Shore Excursions Operations at Pullmantur Cruises; and Mario Sennacheribbo, CEO of BC Agency. The discussion focused on the opportunities and needs of Santander and Cantabria as a cruise destination in an industry with significant growth potential. During the round table, attendees were able to ask questions directly to the panelists. The event concluded with closing remarks by Francisco Martín, Minister of Industry, Innovation, Trade, and Tourism for the Government of Cantabria, who emphasized the importance of both Santander and Cantabria showcasing their potential to the world through strategy and collaboration.
The main conclusions drawn from this forum, which is intended to be held annually, are that cooperation between all public administrations and the business sector is fundamental for the development of this segment in Santander, in addition to committing to a correct sizing of the infrastructure.
The day before the forum, the participating executives were able to experience firsthand the tourist attractions of the city of Santander and enjoy a guided tour of the Botín Centre, as well as sample the local cuisine.
