CLIA Expects 5% Rise in Cruise Travel for 2019

Some 30 million passengers are expected to take cruises in 2019, a 5 percent increase from 2018, according to the Cruise Line International Association Europe (CLIA Europe).

Announcing its participation in the upcoming 2019 Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum in Athens, during May 27-29, CLIA Europe said the rise in cruise travel in the Eastern Mediterranean last year illustrates the beginning of a return to confidence in the region.

In 2018 there was strong growth in cruise passengers travelling to the Eastern Mediterranean, up 8.5 percent to 746,000 passengers.

“Growth in cruising continues and it is estimated that 30 million passengers will cruise in 2019,” CLIA Europe said.

CLIA Europe at the 2019 Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum

The state of the cruise industry and specific figures for Greece and East Med will be presented during the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum on May 28 by CLIA Europe Secretary General Tom Boardley, who will deliver the keynote speech at the “State Of The Industry: The Mediterranean in Today’s Cruise Market” panel.

On the same day, CLIA Europe will hold a panel on “CLIA EUROPE – Partnership for Sustainable Tourism: Ships, Ports and Destinations”, where representatives of cruise, port and destination companies will discuss their initiatives that ensure the sustainable development of tourism in terms of environmental protection as well as the cruise destinations.

Maria Deligianni.

Maria Deligianni, Government and Public Affairs Representative Eastern Mediterranean, CLIA Europe, will participate in the panel, presenting CLIA’s strategy on destination sustainability that aims to secure a pleasant experience for cruise passengers, always through a respectful way for local communities of the destinations.

Deligianni will also participate in the YES to Sea Tourism Forum panel (May 29), an event dedicated to young entrepreneurship in the world of shipping and cruise. There, she will present career opportunities in the world of shipping/cruise.

Moreover, on the sidelines of the 2019 Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum on May 27, CLIA Europe will participate in a stakeholders’ event (invitation only) on board the Celestyal Crystal vessel at Piraeus port.

On May 28, during the forum, Bo Larsen, CLIA’s Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, will present CLIA’s Executive Partners Program and on May 29, the CLIA Travel Agent Program will be presented during a workshop on “Cruise Sales: How can Travel Agents benefit from increased demand for Cruise Holidays”.

The 2019 Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum will take place at the Domotel Kastri Conference Center in Athens.

The Greek Travel Pages (GTP) is a media sponsor of the 5th Ρosidonia Sea Tourism Forum.