Burgas performed well as the host of the 63rd General Assembly of MedCruise. For the first time in the history of its establishment, the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports is organizing a meeting of its members and the representatives of the largest cruise companies in Bulgaria.
Representatives of some of the largest cruise companies in the world arrived in Burgas for the negotiations of the cruise visits for the following years, such as: Ambassador Cruise Line; Azamara; Carnival Cruise Line; Costa; Holland America Line; Holland America Group | Serving Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn and P&O Australia; Princess Cruises; Royal Caribbean Group; Silversea Cruises; Swan Hellenic Cruises.
The event was covered by international press, including: Seatrade Cruise Review (UK); Cruises News Media Group (Spain); Cruise & Ferry (UK); Cruise Times (IR); Cruise Insight; Cruise Industry News; Ports and Destinations; independent bloggers, influencers and Bulgarian media.
During the plenary sessions, topics related to the management of cruise destinations, their positive impact on the local economy, as well as the acceptance and non-acceptance by local communities of this type of visit were discussed; geopolitical risks affecting cruise regions and ports; investment in port infrastructure and the impact it has on increasing cruise visits.
The “EALING” project (shore electrification of ships in ports) was also discussed, the aim of which is to prepare the transition to zero greenhouse gas emissions and the use of electricity in maritime transport. The project involved 22 partners from 9 European countries, including Bulgaria.
The workshops and plenary sessions during the assembly ended with a group photo of the participants, who expressed their gratitude to the team for the perfect organization with applause. On the last day of the assembly, excursions were organized to interesting tourist places in the region – St. Anastasia Island, Chengene Skele fishing village, Nessebar and Sozopol.
