2nd Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum To Launch Next May

The 2011 Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum (archive photo).

Following the success of the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum in 2011, the second forum to be held next year will widen the scope to address a greater range of marine tourism development issues.

The 2nd Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum will explore how niche sectors of the sea tourism industry can upgrade both the East Med’s and Black Sea’s sea tourism product and review the initiatives launched as a result of the 1st Forum.

The 2011 Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum (archive photo).

Over the last two years, the cruise industry, the yachting sector, as well as coastal shipping, have all been marked by the after effects of the Arab Spring, the global economic slowdown, the lingering Euro Zone crisis and the continuing instability in the Middle East.

Especially for Greece, counterproductive legislation and over taxation only add to the problems of the sea tourism sector.

New challenges emerge for all pillars of the sea tourism sector, challenges that can be seen as opportunities to develop business. Those challenges and opportunities will be addressed during the 2nd Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum’s three sessions.

Cruise: The session will address current East Mediterranean development strategy, port privatization and concessions, port development and investment, deployment and future itineraries, shore excursion innovation and new regional market development.
Yachting: The session will address marina privatization and development, successful sector development examples from the region, the importance of attracting top class events, optimal legislative and tax models, growth prospects in Greece and East Mediterranean, future market targeting and the potential output of yachting for a national economy.
Passenger shipping: This special session will address the current state of the industry, technical and infrastructure problems, the effect of the current crisis on the future structure of this industry and finally, possible expedient and long term policies and solutions that could secure the viability of continuing to serve the region’s extensive coastal and island network.

The 2nd Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum will take place 28-29 May 2013 at the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre, Athens, Greece.