London – Seatrade is delighted to announce that Portugal’s capital city, Lisbon, will be the next venue for the largest cruise industry event focusing on the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas – Seatrade Cruise Med 2018.
Hosted by the Port of Lisbon Authority (APL) and supported by CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) and MedCruise, the event will take place from 19 - 21 September 2018 and feature a showcase exhibition, conference and a full social and networking programme.
As a leading platform for discussion and debate on issues confronting the Mediterranean cruise market, which recorded more than 27.4m cruise passengers and 13,460 cruise calls in the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas in 2016, the conference forms an integral part of Seatrade Cruise Med, organised by Seatrade. Previous editions of Seatrade Cruise Med have attracted cruise line executives representing 30 brands as well as MedCruise members - representing 80% of cruise ports from across the region.
Portugal’s Minister of the Sea, Ana Paula Vitorino, said: "Portugal is increasingly affirmed as an important and renowned player in the world cruise sector with both the country as a whole and the city of Lisbon benefiting from the economic impact of cruise ship calls.”
A sentiment agreed by the President of APL, Lidia Sequeira: "To host this prestigious event is recognition of the work we have been doing in the cruise sector for many years. The hope is that this event will give an important boost to the local and national economy of this sector, especially now that Lisbon is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to welcome all the cruise ships and their guests."
Located on both banks of the Tagus Estuary, the Port of Lisbon welcomes more than 500,000 passengers annually to its shores and boasts an access channel of 15.5mtr depth and over 2,400mtr of quays. More than 45 cruise lines choose the Port of Lisbon, which has four passenger terminals – all within easy walking distance of the city’s historical sites and shopping districts.
With an annual growth of 8.4% over the past 10 years, efforts are also in place to finish its new terminal – Lisbon Cruise Terminal – which will offer 1,450mtr of berthing with a draft between 11 and 6.5mtr. On its completion, projected for the second half of 2017, the Port of Lisbon Authority estimates that current traffic could grow to over 750,000 passengers annually – reaching 1.8 million passengers within 10 years.
Seatrade Cruise Med will also hold an exhibition that will see ports and destinations, tourism authorities, cruise associations, ground handlers, tour operators, port agents, technical equipment and hotel suppliers showcasing their products and services to the cruise industry. The event will also feature a full social and networking programme for attending delegates.
“We are also pleased to announce that the venue for the 2020 Seatrade Cruise Med has also been confirmed – and we look forward to holding the event in Malaga, Spain,” confirmed Andrew Williams, General Manager, Seatrade and Group Director, UBM.
The President of the Port Authority of Málaga, Paulino Plata, welcomed the news that Málaga has been selected as the venue for the most important cruise show in the Mediterranean in 2020, which he said had been made possible due to the commitment from the port and destination to promote it as the gateway to Andalusia. He added: "Málaga has positioned itself as the most important cruise port in the region, thanks to the investment on state-of-the-art port facilities that provide a high-quality service both to the passenger and the ship, as well as to our wide gastronomic, cultural and leisure offer, added to excellent air, rail and road connections".
The 2020 event will see the Port Authority of Málaga, Málagaport; the Tourist Boards in the Area -Málaga City Council, Costa del Sol Tourist Board, and Andalucía Tourist Board, as well as cruise terminal operators - Cruceros Málaga, a subsidiary of Global Ports Holding – work together to host Seatrade Cruise Med 2020.
