Senior officials from major international cruise companies will meet in Athens in May for the 3rd Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum to engage with government officials, network and do business with representatives of the Eastern Mediterranean’s port authorities, cruise ship suppliers and other industry players.
Scheduled to be held at the Greek capital’s Megaron Athens International Conference Centre on May 26th-27th, the forum will also welcome leading players from the yachting sector, including association representatives from MYBA and ICOMIA, as well as yacht charterers and marina developers and managers.
In total, some 800 professionals of the sea tourism sectors with a keen interest in the Eastern Mediterranean will table and debate issues of significant importance to the future of an industry that contributes well in excess of €39.4 billion and 339,000 jobs to Europe’s economy, a figure that does not incorporate revenues generated by yachting activity.
Highly topical issues including growth potential for the cruise industry in Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean, projected increase of regional deployment for 2016 and current barriers to growth of both cruise transit calls and homeporting in Greece are among those to be discussed during the Executive Committee Meeting of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which will take place on day two of the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum.
“CLIA Europe’s decision to select our forum for this important meeting highlights the long way we have travelled since launching Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum in 2011,” said Theodore Vokos, Executive Director of Posidonia Exhibitions, the event’s organisers.
“The calibre of the participating brands and the reputation of our speakers have made this event an eagerly anticipated biennial occasion for the international cruising and yachting communities of professionals who clearly see the untapped growth potential in our region.”
Speakers include Pierfrancesco Vago, Chairman, CLIA Europe & Executive Chairman, MSC Cruises; John F Tercek, Vice President, Commercial and New Business Development, Royal Caribbean International & Celebrity Cruises; Carla Salvado, President, MedCruise & Marketing and Cruise Director, Port of Barcelona; George Anomeritis, President, Greek Ports Association & Chairman & Managing Director, Piraeus Port Authority; Andreas Andreadis, President, Greek Tourism Confederation and Michalis Sakelis, President, Association of Passenger Shipping Companies.
The 3rd Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum is organised under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and Tourism, the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports (MEDCRUISE), the Hellenic Ports’ Association (ELIME), the Greek Marinas’ Association, the Association of Passenger Shipping Companies, the Union of Greek Ship Owners & Associated Members and the Hellenic Association of Travel & Tourism Agencies.
Gold Sponsors are the Greek Tourism Organisation and the Piraeus Port Authority, Silver Sponsors are Air France – KLM – Delta and Bronze Sponsor is Celestyal Cruises.
