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CLIA’s participation at the Forum seals the continuous growth in cruising, as it is estimated that 30 million passengers will cruise in 2019, a 5% increase from 2018.
The Cruise Line International Association Europe (CLIA Europe), which supports the Greek cruise market and aims at its further development in the region, today announced its participation in major cruise and shipping events that will take place between May 27 and 29, 2019, within the framework of the 5th Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum 2019. The International Cruise Association has always been supportive of this event which is the most prominent conference for sea tourism in the East med region, and now is taking place at a time when the cruise is more popular than ever before. Executives representing cruise companies and the CLIA Europe team are expecting to meet with policymakers and other industry stakeholders to jointly discuss the development of a new perspective on maritime tourism in the Eastern Mediterranean.
On Tuesday, May 28, CLIA Europe's participation at the Forum will open via Mr. Tom Boardley, Secretary General of CLIA Europe, who will be delivering the keynote speech at the“State Of The Industry: The Mediterranean in Today’s Cruise Market” panel. He will speak about the state of the industry and he will present specific figures for Greece and East Med. It is worth mentioning that in 2018, there was strong growth in cruise passengers travelling to the Eastern Mediterranean, up 8.5% to 746,000 passengers, which illustrates the beginning of a return to confidence in the region. Growth in cruising continues and it is estimated that 30 million passengers will cruise in 2019, a 5% increase from 2018.
On the same day, CLIA Europe is organizing 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, Government and Public Affairs Representative Eastern Mediterranean, CLIA Europe, will be participating in the panel presenting CLIA’s strategy on destination sustainability, in order to secure a pleasant experience for cruise passengers, always through a respectful way for local communities of the destinations. Among the participants of the panel are: Mr. Aris Batsoulis, Development Director & Head of Cruise Department, Corfu Port Authority S.A., Mr. Charles (Bud) Darr, Executive Vice President, Maritime Policy and Government Affairs, MSC Group, Dr Ioannis Pappas, Director Mediterranean Region, Global Sustainable Tourism Council, Mrs. Sacha Rougier, Chair, Int’l Association of Ports and Harbors Cruise Committee/ Managing Director, Cruise Gate Hamburg.

The underlying activities and overall programme, as per CLIA’s participation at the 5th Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum 2019, are shaped as follows:
Monday, May 27
The International Cruise Lines Association of Europe (CLIA Europe), in cooperation with the leading cruise company in Greece, Celestyal Cruises, are organizing stakeholders’ event on board of Celestyal Crystal at the Piraeus port. The event is invitation only and is addressed to CLIA’s executive partners, CLIA team and members, MED Cruise, Port of Piraeus, Hellenic ports association and the GR Cruise Union.
Also, on the same day, the Ports and Destinations Advisory Committee will meet with cruise lines’ executives at the Domotel Kastri Hotel Conference Center.
Tuesday, May 28
Following CLIA Europe's panel on sustainable cruise development, Mr. Bo Larsen, CLIA's Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, will present CLIA's Executive Partners Program, an exclusive, global platform that provides suppliers access to key cruise line decision makers and industry peers, with the aim to support them to grow their business, gain insight and expand their influence within the cruise industry.
Wednesday, May 29
On the second day of the 5th Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum, a Workshop will take place on “Cruise Sales: How can Travel Agents benefit from increased demand for Cruise Holidays". The workshop will offer travel agents the chance to acquire skills and techniques on how to increase their business turnover through cruise sales. From the CLIA team, Mr. Andy Harmer, Senior Vice President Membership and Operations will also present the CLIA Travel Agent Program.
Finally, Mrs. Maria Deligianni will participate in the YES TO SEA TOURISM FORUM panel, which is dedicated to young entrepreneurship in the world of shipping and cruise. There, she will present career opportunities in the world of shipping/cruise lobbying mainly from European perspective and she will underline career opportunities that can be created from the development of the cruise business, i.e. sectors that are positively affected by our business.