The Ceuta Port Authority participates in the reference fair of the European cruise sector, “Seatrade Europe Cruise and River Cruise”, which is held in Hamburg from September 11 to 13 and which is framed in the “German city’s Cruise Week. ” In addition to this, it is highlighted the celebration of two events organized by CLIA, the Cruise Lines International Association.
The Seatrade Cruise Europe edition is the most important fair-congress dedicated to the world of cruises in Europe. With permanent headquarters in Hamburg, this biannual fair-congress receives about 5000 visitors from more than 40 countries who develop a varied range of routes and destinations on 260 stands. In this new edition, the Seatrade Europe will count on more space for new exhibitors and innovative conferences.
The Ceuta Port Authority will be present at the fair in the State Ports stand together with the main Port Authorities under the slogan “Blue Carpet” and, together with Tour Spain and companies of this sector, they will exhibit a wide range of destinations and services to shipping companies, giving a global image of Spain, and boosting the cruise sector from the point of view of the improvement in port facilities, and of the cultural and tourist offer.
The representation of the Port of Ceuta, headed by its Commercial and Marketing Manager, Víctor Jiménez, will hold meetings with delegates of the main cruise ships and other professionals of the sector, presenting the novelties and advantages offered by the porto f Ceuta as well as the tourist attractions of the city that will enhance the image of Ceuta as a cruise destination.
Likewise, contacts will be made with shipping companies interested in making calls in their itineraries for the next few years, taking advantage of the fact that our port has adapted to receive ships that are increasingly large and it offers all kinds of services.
Precisely, in the field of infrastructure, the Port Authority of Ceuta brings interesting news about the cruises that visited our city this year. The adaptation of the Muelle España to house vessels of greater length, the integral renovation of the aforementioned quay that allows access to ships that take tourists on excursion, as well as a new arrangement of security, lighting, signaling, green areas keeping in its design the original structure of the dock, which generates some surface so that the operation of embarkation / disembarkation is easier to carry out.
In addition to the exhibition area, during these fair days key issues around the amazing expansion of cruises in Europe will be discussed. An expansion of which Ceuta also wants to be a participant Issues such as sustainability and environmental regulations, design of new terminals, creation of new brands, among other aspects, will be discussed. To deal with these issues, managers and important personalities of the sector will be present during the conferences.
With regards to the meetings celebrated other ports, it is highlighted the previous ones maintained with the neighboring ports of Cádiz and Malaga. These ones will be complemented with visits to both ports in this last four-month period of the year, in order to exchange points of view, boost and include our port in initiatives and joint programs with them, since they are a perfect example in the cruise sector in the western Mediterranean area with considerable increases in the number of calls of these ships.
Finally, the forecasts of the Port Authority is to increase its presence in this sector in the coming years, however, for external reasons, there have been some cancellations of calls during this year; a circumstance that does not stop us continuing to work and resume satisfactory new cruise visits such as last August. Both, the port and the city are planning new objectives to promote this traffic in upcoming forums and international fairs, with presence in associations of cruise industry professionals such as CLÍA and Medcruise that will report new calls and visits for the benefit of the tourist and economic sector of the city.