Seatrade Cruise Global is the world's largest event for the maritime tourism industry. Delegations of the Port of Gdansk and the Port of Gdynia are taking part yet again. The Tri-City ports are promoting Poland under the slogan: "Destination Poland".
The fair and the accompanying conference take place in Miami, Florida. They connect over 11,000 professionals and more than 70 cruise lines with a focus on one message: feel right at home - at sea.
"The Port of Gdynia, which can receive the largest cruise ships sailing the Baltic Sea, is a gateway to the Pomerania region and the rest of Poland," says Adam Meller, President of the Board of the Port of Gdynia Authority. "The fact that the Port of Gdynia delegation participates in the Seatrade Cruise Global fair makes it possible to present the port's potential in this respect. We have met with considerable interest, both among shipowners and cruise agencies. It is proof that they recognise the potential of our infrastructure and the services offered by the port. In 2018, more than 100,000 tourists came to Gdynia on board cruise ships, becoming ambassadors of our country, stimulating the region's economy, shopping, and visiting Pomerania's tourist attractions".
Just like every year, the fair's exhibitors include major global passenger shipowners, tour operators, passenger ship equipment companies, cruise organisers for the tourism industry, and seaports.
"This year, there will be even more cruise ships calling at the Port of Gdansk than in the previous years. The growing numbers of tourists coming to Poland by sea do not only mean more money for the ports, cities, and the region, but also, above all, constitute an excellent form of promoting Poland among foreign tourists. And this is why we are here in Miami - to advertise Poland as a tourist destination," explains Marcin Osowski, Vice-President of the Board of the Port of Gdansk Authority.
During the Miami fair, the ports are accompanied by the Pomeranian Regional Tourism Organisation and the Gdansk Tourism Organisation, which are encouraging the fair's participants to visit Pomerania - with its attractions and monuments. Usually, after reaching the shore, cruise ship passengers set off to explore Tri-City or Malbork or travel deeper into the Kashubia region. In Miami, the tourism organisations are presenting the region's potential in order to arouse the interest of an even larger number of entities from the maritime tourism industry.
This year, the cruise season at the Tri-City ports will begin as soon as April. On 24 April, MSC Poesia - sailing under the flag of Panama - will call at the Port of Gdynia. Four days later, MS Magellan will arrive at the Port of Gdansk.