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Med growth requires patience, local focus, big-ship infrastructure

(Photo: Mary Bond)
From left, Miguel Reyna, Bruce Krumrine, Giora Israel, incoming MedCruise president Airam Diaz, Tom Fecke and Stavros Hatzakos, Piraeus Port consultant and honorary MedCruise president
To grow cruising in the Mediterranean requires patience by the ports and destinations currently off the map due to geopolitical issues, Carnival Corp. & plc's Giora Israel told delegates at the 51st MedCruise general assembly, held this week in Toulon.

'These issues come and go away so to those ports in the Black Sea, Turkey, Tunisia, Egypt and Israel, it's going to take time but ships will come back,' said the svp global port and destination development.

Israel refused to be drawn on what year their return might be seen but he reassured 'we are evaluating the situation every day.'

According to Holland America Group's Bruce Krumrine, vp shore excursions, a key to growing the Mediterranean is the ability to 'engage our guests with local ports and destinations particularly those that are so well known.

'The most powerful word in travel is "local,"' he added.

Royal Caribbean's Miguel Reyna, director port business development & asset management, sees great opportunities for Europe, including the Mediterranean, to grow as a destination but reminded that as a very high percentage of new ships coming in the next six years will have capacity for 2,000 or more passengers, it is important that infrastructure is prepared.

CLIA Europe secretary general Tom Fecke shared figures showing 3% of ships currently sailing have capacity for more than 4,000 passengers but this size will account for 48% in 2026 'so it is important that we work together to enhance port development and build an infrastructure that supports growth.'