As announced in action 3 of the Communication "A European Strategy for more Growth and Jobs in Coastal and Maritime Tourism", the Commission promoted a structured dialogue on cruise tourism to enhance synergies in the sector, targeting best practice sharing in innovation, competitiveness and sustainability strategies. The launching conference took place in Brussels, 5 and 6 March 2015, and follow up events at regional level are foreseen in the coming months.

Programme

Conference conclusions

Pan-European Dialogue between cruise operators, ports and coastal tourism stakeholders

Some statistics of the event

Background documents

Study: Tourist facilities in ports

A European Strategy for more Growth and Jobs in Coastal and Maritime Tourism

Presentations and speeches

Opening Speeches:

Karmenu Vella, EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

Keynote speakers

Santiago Garcia-Milà [74 KB], Deputy CEO, Port of Barcelona, Chairman of the European Sea Ports Organization (ESPO)

Antonio Deudero [2 MB], Director General for Ports and Airports of the Regional Government of the Balearic Islands, on behalf of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR)

Session 1: Ports for the future - managing congestion and other challenges, building solutions for the future

Adam Sharp [2 MB], Northern Europe Port Services Manager, Royal Caribbean, Chairman of CLIA Europe Ports and Destinations Sub-Committee

Stavros Hatzakos [2 MB] , Director-General, Port of Piraeus, Chair of the ESPO network for cruise ports

Carla Salvadó [443 KB] , Marketing and Cruise Director, Port of Barcelona, President of MedCruise

Michel Nestour [2 MB], VP Global Port and Destination Development, Carnival Corporation

Mihail Juc [960 KB], Senior Engineer, Projects Directorate, Environment and Regional Development Department, European Investment Bank (EIB)

Session 2: Environmental sustainability - greener solutions for the cruise sector

Tom Strang [669 KB], Senior Vice President Costa Crociere Spa, Chairman of CLIA Europe Environment, Safety and Security Sub-Committee

Monika Stankiewicz[2 MB] , Executive Secretary, Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, Helsinki Commission (HELCOM)

Geert Smit [184 KB] , Senior Consultant, International Department, Panteia BV

Guido Van Meel  [2 MB] , Secretary-General, Euroshore International

Hrvoje Carić [6 MB] , Institute for Tourism, Zagreb, Croatia

Session 3: The shared return - cruise tourism opportunities for coastal economies

Sotiris A. Bouzeas [4 MB] , CEO Greek Challenge, America’s Cup

Evaggelia Stefanidaki [2 MB] , Senior Researcher, University of Aegean

Amanda Jane Maciver [2 MB], Maciver Business Development Services Ltd, Cruise Scotland

Session 4: A new impetus for regional cooperation in cruise tourism

Dolors Rodriguez [2 MB] , Director for Ports, Government of Catalonia

Christian de Barrin [798 KB] , CEO, Hotels, Restaurants and Cafes in Europe (HOTREC)

Olivier Lemerle [66 KB Director, Chambers of Commerce and Industry, member of the Network of the Insular Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the EU (INSULEUR)

Zacharias Siokouros [2 MB] , President, Maritime Institute of Eastern Mediterranean

Jan Korthoudt [2 MB] , Tourism Director of Flanders International Department, Execut

Parallel Workshops:

(1) Challenges and opportunities for cruise tourism in the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the Arctic

Steven Young [2 MB] , Director of Port Services and Government Affairs, Carnival UK

Andreia Fernandes Ventura [4 MB], Chairman of the Board of Directors, Port of Lisbon

Ilja Leo Lang [2 MB], Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO)

(2) Challenges and opportunities for cruise tourism in the Baltic Sea

Claus Bødker [5 MB], Director, Cruise Baltic

Nyrki Tuominen [2 MB], Director, Economic Development Division of the City Executive Office of Helsinki

Ingrid Berezin [4 MB], Business Manager, Cruise and Ferry, Port of Tallin

Sylvia Bretschneider [474 KB], Chairman of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC)

(3) Challenges and opportunities for cruise tourism in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea

John Portelli [2 MB], General Manager, Roma Cruise Terminal

Francesco di Cesare [5 MB], President, Risposte Turismo

Thanos Pallis [2 MB], Secretary-General, MedCruise

Georgios Tsalonis [2 MB], Regional Councillor of Central Macedonia in charge of Tourism, on behalf of CPMR