Sea Tourism Forum sails north
The appeal of Greece and the East Mediterranean as an ideal region for luxury cruising will be one of the main highlights of the 7th Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum (PSTF), scheduled to take place in Thessaloniki on April 25 and 26.
Luxury and niche cruise brands that have already confirmed participation for the twoday event to be held at Thessaloniki's landmark five-star hotel Makedonia Palace include Azamara Cruises, Compagnie du Ponant, Scenic Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Variety Cruises and recently relaunched Crystal Cruises.
Delegates and exhibitors from around the world will have the chance to attend a panel discussion titled “The Appeal of Venturing to Non-Mainstream Destinations: Luxury & Expedition Cruising Leading the Way,” which will examine the increasing importance of lesser-known destinations for this specific market segment, in conjunction with infrastructure challenges and the role of sustainability and authenticity as desirability factors.
“Our decision to move the PSTF away from Athens for the first time in the event's 12-year history was in sync with emerging trends in an industry that wishes to constructively address growing criticism for its contribution to overtourism in many cruise hotspots around the world,” said Theodore Vokos, managing director of Posidonia Exhibitions SA. “Thessaloniki was chosen as the host of this year's event to signify the need for more port alternatives and new destinations to dilute impact and optimize cruise traffic management in the East Mediterranean region. Also, Thessaloniki is a natural gateway for emerging Balkan markets, which is another important topic to be addressed during the forum.”
With more than 400 inhabited islands and coastal cities across Italy, Croatia, Greece, Albania and Turkey, the East Mediterranean and Adriatic seas collectively offer one of the highest densities of destination alternatives in the world. There are countless potential new ports-of-call, as well as main and regional homeporting options beyond the well-established marquee destinations.
Diverting some traffic from over-frequented destinations will enrich the itinerary design menu, as well as serve as a tool that can protect the natural, cultural and tourism values needed for a sustainable future.