The Port of Lisbon participated in the 14th edition of the largest biennial event for the Mediterranean cruise market, Seatrade Cruise Med, which took place from September 11 to 12 in Málaga, under the theme "Partnerships for Progress," where industry leaders collaborated on key priorities to meet growing demand and ensure a safe and sustainable future for cruises.
The Port of Lisbon has been participating in this event since 1996, the year of the first edition, and since 2008 it has been part of the joint stand of Portuguese ports, and this year is no exception.
The participation of the Port of Lisbon, along with the ports of Leixões, Setúbal, Portimão, Madeira, and the Azores, as usual, and for the first time the port of Figueira da Foz, under the CRUISE PORTUGAL brand, was represented in a 36m2 national space (stand MC13), located in the area reserved for the MedCruise Association.
On the occasion of the presence of the Administration of the Port of Lisbon (APL) at Seatrade Cruise Med, represented by António Caracol, administrator, and Ana Lourenço, head of the cruise area, the President of APL, Carlos Correia, emphasized that "for the Port of Lisbon, participation in this event is extremely important, as critical priorities shaping the future of cruises are discussed here, among which I highlight decarbonization and sustainability, which are also priorities for the Port of Lisbon. For this reason, the 'Implementation of the Onshore Power Supply Solution at the Port of Lisbon' project is a strategic project for the Port of Lisbon, and its development status will be presented in Málaga to cruise companies, along with other ongoing projects aimed at promoting the sustainable development of tourism in the city of Lisbon."
Common discussion points included main source markets in the Mediterranean; decarbonization; new players in the Mediterranean; updates on new orders; port and destination preparedness; the new European entry/exit system: practical application and recommendations. These were among the topics on the event's agenda, which saw the registration of more than 2,000 cruise professionals from over 80 countries, including 175 executives from cruise ship operators, and more than 180 exhibitors of products and services.