The Cruise Atlantic Islands (CAI) Conference 2024, taking place on September 26, 27 and 28 in Funchal, will be an important moment of joint affirmation for the recently formalized International Association of Ports of the Macaronesian Islands.
"As a collective brand, the CAI is already 30 years old and this conference aims to commemorate that anniversary and at the same time think about our shared future, at a time when we have taken an important step in the formalization and constitution of the CAI, based in the Canary Islands," explains Paula Cabaço, president of Ports of Madeira (APRAM, SA), promoter of the meeting that will bring together about 80 international experts in Funchal.
The CAI (Cruise Association of the Canary Islands) was founded in 1994 as a joint effort between the ports of Madeira and the Canary Islands, expanding in 2006 with the addition of Cape Verde and, in 2023, with the integration of the Azores. In an increasingly competitive and global cruise industry, the CAI represents a market of 3.3 million tourists, presenting itself to the sector as a differentiated product based on the unique and complementary identities of the Atlantic islands of Macaronesia. As a collective brand, the CAI is a key player at major industry events, always with a unified strategy. Now, with the creation of an association, formalized at the beginning of August, new horizons are opening up.
"There is a range of possibilities that we can now explore and that will allow us to face the new challenges that the sector presents in an even more robust and capable way," says Paula Cabaço, pointing to the dialogue with European institutions and the strengthening of CAI's position in the global cruise tourism industry as added values of the association that gave legal form to CAI.
The Conference, which will take place in the Municipal Auditorium of Funchal, the only Portuguese municipality that is a member of CLIA, will bring together members of CAI – Madeira, the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and the Azores – as well as guests, operators, companies, industry agents, government officials, Shorex, and national and international press.
An opportunity to pay tribute to the past, through a conversation with the founders of the CAI, and essentially to launch the future. "We have major challenges ahead, such as the decarbonization of ports, the energy transition, digitalization, and sustainability," lists the chairman of the APRAM board, highlighting the projects that the Ports of Madeira are already involved in regarding energy efficiency and the implementation of Onshore Power Supply (OPS), which will allow docked vessels to turn off their engines and connect to the electrical grid on land, thus reducing gas emissions.
This work cannot be done in isolation. "The ports of Macaronesia and the members of the IAC have made a commitment to the environment and sustainability, and in Tenerife we are committed to making our facilities more energy and environmental efficient, and of course, economically efficient as well," emphasizes the president of Ports of Tenerife, Pedro López de Vergara, adding: "We want to work on green corridors between our islands that will allow us to decarbonize maritime routes, in this case cruise routes, thus complying with the relevant regulations, but also contributing to the sustainability of our archipelagos."
A sentiment shared by Beatriz Calzada Ojeda, president of the Port Authority of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. “The CAI fosters the exchange of best practices and innovative solutions among its members, which strengthens the industry’s resilience in the face of global challenges,” says Ojeda, highlighting the association’s role in attracting major cruise lines. “It plays a key role in promoting and developing cruise tourism in this region, and by acting as a consortium that brings together several Macaronesian destinations, it facilitates cooperation between the islands and promotes joint marketing strategies that position them in the international market.”
Ireneu Camacho, president of the board of directors of Ports of Cape Verde, emphasizes the importance of the CAI's role in driving the growth of the cruise industry. "The geostrategic position of the Macaronesian islands is undoubtedly our differentiating factor, and it is from this perspective that we must begin to envision the future," states Camacho, adding that the synergies being created through the CAI allow partners to complement each other as tourism products. "It gives us the opportunity to compete for emerging tourism niches, blurring the lines between center and periphery.".
The Ports of the Azores see this first CAI Conference as a reflection of the commitment of all members to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the sector, and the CAI's own competitiveness in the global cruise market. "It is an opportunity to strengthen ties with other port authorities and explore new collaborations," the Azorean port authority points out, emphasizing that the exchange of experiences and collaboration among the Macaronesian islands are fundamental for the sustainable and integrated growth of the sector.
The CAI 2024 Conference kicks off on the morning of September 26th with an environmental event at Funchal Ecological Park and a Welcome Cocktail to conclude the day. On September 27th, events will take place in the Funchal Municipal Auditorium, and the following day will conclude with a familiarization trip to the north of the island for invited guests and press.
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