2nd Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum attracts strong international interest

Photo Posidonia-Sea-Tourim-Forum-thumb2nd Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum Conference and Exhibition 28-29 May 2013, Megaron Athens International Conference Centre, Greece

The Greek cruising and yachting sectors have the combined potential to create more than 40,000 new jobs, according to a recent study undertaken by the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping. The full roll out of the home-porting policy for cruise lines alone can add to the Greek economy annual revenues in excess of Euro 1 billion.

The economic benefits of cruising on a European level are well illustrated in the words of MSC Cruises' CEO Pierfrancesco Vago, Vice-Chairman of the European Cruise Council and speaker at the 1st Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum, "We keep repeating the impressive numbers of the economic impact in 2011 alone: €36.7 billion worth of goods and services generated; over 6 million passengers; €3.5 billion spent by passengers and crew during visits to the 250 port cities that welcome cruise ships year-round. And last, but certainly not least, more than 315,000 jobs created across Europe: which, considering the eye-watering levels of unemployment in other sectors, is quite a remarkable result."

The special interest for cruising and its growth potential in the East Med and Black Sea area is further evidenced by the arrival of new brands in the region, including FTI Cruises in 2012, Disney Cruises and Paul Gauguin Cruises in 2013 as well as the new ships coming online this year for operation in the Mediterranean.

The Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum, which will be held in Athens on May 28-29, has already attracted strong interest from major international cruise and yachting companies. They will vie for the attention of the industry’s regional decision makers who will converge to the Greek capital for two days of discussions and debates on the sector’s growth challenge for Greece, Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

Major cruise lines Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC Cruises, Silversea, Costa Crociere, Celebrity Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises and Louis Cruises have already committed their presence at the event which additionally has the support of CLIA - Europe and MedCruise.

In the Yachting sector, senior industry officials agree that the arrival of major international and regional marina developers and operators Camper & Nicholsons Marinas and D-Marine Investments Holding with investments in Greek marinas are indications of a more robust future.

According to George Gratsos, President of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, "Yachting already creates 40,000 direct and indirect jobs for the Greek economy. A friendlier business environment and the development of new marinas with a capacity for 10,000 more yachts than hosted at present would create an additional 30,000 jobs."

The future potential for yachting in the region will be in depth examined at a panel dedicated to marina privatization, with the participation of the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, which is in process of evaluating the most appropriate method for exploiting management and other rights in ports and marinas.

Of vital importance for the region to be successful in its quest to further develop all forms of sea tourism is the parallel expansion of the sector in all the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean in general. It is the greater region’s importance for the global tourism industry that will ensure long term and sustainable growth in the future. Strong international interest has already been expressed both for the conference and the exhibition.

All4yachting.com is supporting 2nd Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum as Media Partner.