Region Gotland has joined forces with Copenhagen Malmö Port (CMP) to develop a berth capable of handling two cruise ships of 340mtr simultaneously.
Also on board for this key expansion is Monica Frisk who took up the position of managing director for a new business association, Gotland Tourism Business Association in Visby, Gotland at the start of this year.
Frisk has 15 years of experience in destination development and marketing and was one of driving forces in developing Helsingborg, Sweden as a cruise destination in the Baltic Sea area. She also serves on the board of Cruise Europe.
Frisk will play a central role in the further development and marketing of Gotland as a cruise destination.
’The environment and the Baltic Sea are important to us,’ Frisk told Seatrade Cruise News. ’The vessels will be able to discharge their waste water into our treatment plant on land, thus helping to prevent any additional contamination of the Baltic. An equalising tank with a capacity of 1,200cu mtr is being built beneath the land area by the berth. The sludge can then be used in biogas production on Gotland,’ she remarked.
The partnership between Region Gotland and CMP sees Region Gotland financing and building the new cruise berth. CMP will then be Region Gotland’s tenant, charged with the task of selling Gotland as a destination to the cruise lines. The contractor for the construction project is Danish company Aarsleff A/S.
Visby had 58 calls in 2015 and is expecting around 50 this year including maiden calls from AIDAvita, AIDAaura, Mein Schiff 4 and National Geographic Orion.
Asked to name three key attractions for cruise passengers calling in Gotland, Frisk highlighted the medieval town of Visby which can be discovered by foot with a visit to the nature reserve Högklint; a scenic tour of Gotland West Coast, and a visit to the North of Gotland and the small island of Fårö.
’Fårö was the home of Sweden’s famous director Ingmar Bergman who made several films on the island, inspired by beautiful settings and unique lighting.The Bergmancenter is a museum and meeting place that focuses on the life and artistic achievements of the legendary director and writer.’
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