On July 14th, in the Josep Laporte room of the Fortuny Theatre, the institutional and business representatives that are part of the Institutional Cruise Roundtable to analyze the start of the 2023 season and continue with the preparations for the events they will organize in the coming months.
The committee will organize the second edition of the Sustainability and Environmental Care Conference on Cruises and Sports Boating in the fall, and the 64th MedCruise Assembly meeting in June 2024.
The latest cruise ship schedule for this season forecasts the arrival
of 55 cruise ships and 108,600 passengers. The more than 700 surveys conducted
this season by Eurecat-Centre Tecnològic de Catalunyashow an average rating of 8.8 out of 10 for excursions, while the overall rating as a
tourist destination is 8.4.
According to the Institutional Cruise Board , "these figures are a sign of the good work done so far, exceeding assessments from previous years and showing a positive perception of visitors regarding the Tarragona region."
The meeting of the Institutional Cruise Roundtable was attended by:
- Noemí Llauradó, President of the Tarragona Provincial Council and Deputy Mayor of the Reus City Council.
- Alba Colet, representative in Tarragona of Global Ports Holding.
- Francisco Pintado, president of the Association of Hospitality Business Owners of Tarragona (AEHT).
- Marta Farrero, head of the Costa Daurada Tourism Board Autonomous Agency.
- Montse Adan, Councillor for Commerce and Tourism of the Tarragona City Council.
- Mònica Conesa, DMC & In-Destination Port Aventura sales manager.
- Cristina Cid, former tourism councilor of the Vila-seca City Council and Lluïsa Clavé Muñoz, tourism councilor of the Vila-seca City Council.
- Berta Cabré, president of the Tarragona Business Federation of Hospitality and Tourism (FEHT).
- Oscar Saladié, professor at the Rovira i Virgili University (URV).
- Juan Crespo, director of Reus Airport.
- Anna Martínez, Deputy Director General of Tourism Planning and Inspection.
- Genoveva Climent, Commercial and Business Development Director of the Port Authority of Tarragona (APT) and the President of the APT, Saül Garreta.
The meeting agenda addressed topics related to the operation of the
season, such as the estimation of port calls and the first results of the cruise passenger satisfaction survey, as well as issues concerning the organization of events.
During the first few months of the cruise season, a total of 730 passenger surveys were conducted to gather their perceptions and experiences. The surveys were divided into three categories: passengers who toured independently (384), passengers who took a pre-booked excursion (157), and passengers who embarked at the Port of Tarragona (189).
The average rating for excursions in 2023 is 8.8, slightly higher than the 2022 rating of 8.5. As for the overall destination rating, the 2023 average is 8.4, compared to 8.5 in 2022. Finally, it's worth noting that cruise passenger spending has increased in most categories so far this year.
Tarragona to host the 64th MedCruise Assembly 2024
The 64th edition of the MedCruise Assembly will be held in Tarragona from June 11 to 14, 2024, in what will be a major event for the cruise sector and a great opportunity for
the Port of Tarragona and the territory to position itself as a tourist destination.
The MedCruise Assembly is the event of the Mediterranean cruise port association that brings together the different actors related to the cruise activity such as cruise companies, port agents, tourism boards and companies linked to this industry.
Second Conference on Sustainability and Environmental Care in Cruises and Recreational Boating
The meeting of industry professionals will take place during the third quarter with the aim of replicating the success achieved in the first edition held in 2022. The organization is working to ensure the presence of experts to share trends, strategies and new policies to address the need for environmental responsibility within the sector.
Present at Seatrade Europe
The Institutional Roundtable will once again be present at the Seatrade Europe from September 6 to 8, the biennial cruise event held in Hamburg in which
the main companies in the sector participate, such as suppliers, companies, as well as ports and destinations will be present to discuss the latest trends facing the European cruise market.
The institutional table will be located in the Port of Tarragona's space within the joint stand with State Ports, with the aim of positioning Tarragona and the territory at one of the main fairs organized in Central Europe.
The Cruise Table
At this latest meeting of the Institutional Cruise Roundtable, the figures remain optimistic with 55 cruises and 108,600 passengers.
The Institutional Cruise Roundtable is the collaborative space where institutions, administrations, companies and universities cooperate to develop a sustainable cruise model.
From the moment the tourist destination is marketed, as well as from the moment the departures are offered, cruise passengers choose multiple destinations that cover the entire Camp de Tarragona and Terres de l'Ebre, such as Conca de Barberà, Priorat, Terres de l'Ebre or the cities of Tarragona, Reus or Vila-seca.
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