The 60th edition of the MedCruise General Assembly, which represents more than 145 cruise ports from 22 countries and three continents, was hosted by Costa Brava Cruise Ports on behalf of Palamós and Roses.
After a two-year hiatus, this was one of the first in-person events held, attended by 185 delegates, 18 cruise lines, and international and national journalists from the sector. Over three days, the Association organized more than 600 B2B meetings, workshops, and panel discussions, including all port members and associates.
The six sessions focused on key issues and topics that the cruise industry needed to discuss in depth:
- Trends in the Mediterranean – Challenges faced by Mediterranean ports in recent years, opportunities created by the pandemic, and the next steps.
- Fit for 55 – The 145 ports united by sustainability, a significant step towards accelerating the EU's decarbonization efforts by 2050
- Young travelers – What travelers and customers want. Generation Z expects companies to take a stand on important social issues, and 90% say they are more willing to buy products they consider beneficial to society.
- MedCruise4ourPlanet – A holistic approach to sustainability. Mediterranean cruise destinations and ports have different political, societal, economic, historical, and cultural backgrounds. This requires a tailored approach and customized solutions for a common goal.
- The new normal for cruises: 2022 First half review with the perspective of itinerary planning, destination management and port operations towards the “new normal”.
- The Big 3Ds – Digitization and data to create a better customer experience
Thanks to the MedCruise General Assembly, the cruise line executives, along with the international press, have also had the opportunity to visit the most characteristic places and taste the unique eco-gastronomic of the Costa Brava through excursions in the area.
“I am especially proud of this General Assembly, my first as President of MedCruise,” stated Figen Ayan. “This edition has demonstrated that, particularly in our cruise industry, people need to meet, greet each other, and network in person. Nevertheless, I would like to send my thoughts and prayers to our friends in Odessa and throughout the Black Sea, and I look forward to seeing them with us soon.” Following the MedCruise General Assembly, we organized online meetings specifically for our Black Sea members so they could participate in the MedCruise B2B meetings. I would like to sincerely thank the Ports of the Generalitat, the Costa Brava Tourist Board, the Palamós City Council, and the Roses City Council for their warm and exclusive hospitality to all participants of our General Assembly. Furthermore, we were able to discuss environmental and sustainability issues, focusing on finding solutions, all for the benefit and sustainable growth of the cruise industry. The Mediterranean remains a leading market in the sector because we know that collaboration is a key ingredient for strong growth. And it is precisely for this reason that cruise activity resumed in the Med first after the pandemic in August 2020. After two years, cruise lines have confirmed the upward trend, and MedCruise ports are all working together to maintain this leading position in the most sustainable way, also improving and expanding their shore excursion offerings.
The 61st General Assembly will be held in Malaga the day after the Seatrade Cruise Med event.
